Looking ahead
When asked if he had a dream for local news, Motta was hopeful.
“I’m actually watching it happen,” he said. “(The pandemic) really worked as a catalyst (for news outlets training and/or working with the communities they cover) and you see the movement moving a lot faster now.”
What are we missing? How are you training community members to produce high-quality information? Is it leading to jobs? Feel free to add your project to our AirTable, and we’ll host a list of projects.
Are you working with or leading a program that trains community members to become professional journalists? We’d love to add you to the list!
Are you a news organization interested in strengthening the journalism and documenting skills of your community? Email cislm@unc.edu, and we can connect you with more information.
Correction: A previous version of this story misrepresented the outcomes of the CatchLight Local program. This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the pipeline of CatchLight Local fellows to full-time employment. A previous version also misidentified Marcie Young Cancio’s former employer; she worked at the University of Utah prior to Salt Lake Community College. This story has been updated to correctly spell Lindsey Young’s name.