Barb Fraze’s Post

New, from me: The industry's tools, resources and training for stronger enterprise and investigative journalism must adjust to a local news ecosystem now dominated by tiny newsrooms.

The distrust in news and journalism is real. Great research from Jacob Nelson, Zeve Sanderson, and Seth Lewis. "One reason why people appear to distrust journalism so much is because they see journalists as 'elites' who are attempting to manipulate the public for political or monetary gain." The way to regain trust is by increasing transparency. ✅ Show how news gets made. ✅ Explain editorial decisions. ✅ Show how money gets made. ✅ Share how much money is made. ✅ Explain business decisions. ✅ Engage with the public. ✅ Listen to the public's concerns. ✅ Address their concerns. ✅ Be open and honest. "In another recently published study that two of us co-authored, we found that although people distrust journalism and healthcare, they trust their own doctors. As a result, the 'doing your own research' trend we observed in journalism was reversed in medicine: Instead of using the internet to corroborate what their doctor said, people went to their doctor to corroborate what they read online. In other words, doctors fact-check, but journalists get fact-checked."   Why are doctors trusted? Because they have developed strong bonds with their patients over many years and have trusted relationships. Patients are connected with doctors. They know their doctors on a personal, human level. Most people don't have this kind of connection with journalists. To regain public trust, journalism needs to find more ways to build more personal relationships and human connections with the public. They can do this by taking a more grassroots approach to journalism. Taking a grassroots approach means starting at the local level, often within communities or smaller organizations, and building support or momentum from the ground up. It involves engaging with individuals, community groups, or stakeholders directly affected by an issue or cause, rather than relying on top-down or centralized methods. Key characteristics of a grassroots approach include: ✅ Community involvement: Empower individuals to take action and make a difference in their own communities. ✅ Bottom-up decision making: Develop ideas and strategies with community members rather than imposed from above. ✅ Local solutions: Focus on finding local solutions to local problems. This is more effective and sustainable than one-size-fits-all approaches. ✅ Organic growth: Start with small groups of dedicated individuals and gradually expand as more people become invested. ✅ Build networks: There is strength in numbers. Leverage collective action to achieve goals. ✅ Advocacy and activism: Raise awareness, mobilize support, effect change. Community organizing, protests, petitions, and social media campaigns (when done with integrity and without subjective bias) can amplify messages and influence decision-makers. ✅ Long-term commitment: Change takes time and sustained effort. Remain committed and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. #journalism #localnews #community #trust #communitybuilding

The more I dove into the behind-the-scenes process of reporting and producing the stellar investigative series, The 13th Step, the more convinced I became about the importance of this kind of journalism -- whether as a podcast, broadcast features, or online - for the future of public media. It's an investment in the future of the medium, and an investment in democracy. #journalism #worldpressfreedomday2024

How can public media stations make the case they are key to rebuilding local journalism? In this story, learn how to build two killer charts. This is my first column in Current: News for Public Media. Have a question you want tackled in a future story? Email me at [email protected] https://lnkd.in/en6rRawS?

Today we launch Crikey's media Movers and Shakers series, in which we surveyed Australia's media elite about what they’re consuming, hoping for, fearing and anticipating. First up: what's the biggest threat to Australian journalism?

This is such exciting news! "The initiative will support the Oklahoma Eagle newspaper, launch a new newsroom, and create over 20 journalism jobs. It will also provide funding to strengthen four existing Tulsa news outlets: The Frontier, KOSU, La Semana, and Focus: Black Oklahoma."

📰 Lifelines for Local Journalism: Reconnecting with Communities🌍 In a time of digital disruption, local journalism is bouncing back by building stronger connections with communities. How? Engaging directly with readers 🤝 Exploring new partnerships 💼 Embracing community-supported models 💡 Local news is more vital than ever for keeping communities informed and engaged. Want to know how media outlets are leading the charge in reviving local news? Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ew9aKi3g #LocalJournalism #CommunityEngagement #MediaInnovation #JournalismMatters

A helpful study/thought exercise as we grapple with what last night means: What do we as #journalists think constitutes great work and a job well done? And what about our audience? It turns out, what we all largely view as the most important parts of journalism aren't what the audience, our customers, really care about. Instead, what seems to matter the most? "[A]pproachability, empathy, and skills in communicating clearly and in ways that emotionally resonate." Let's stop talking at our audiences. Let's start having a conversation. https://lnkd.in/gdsbFV2j

As journalists, we are constantly faced with conflict. We are given the difficult, yet critical, task of covering contentious issues with fairness, tact, and accuracy. And as we head into another election season, this essential journalistic function takes on even more importance and urgency. The Good Conflict Journalism Toolkit was launched by journalists Hélène Biandudi Hofer and Amanda Ripley to help reporters turn discussions around conflict away from dysfunction and toward productivity. Learn more about how they designed the toolkit and get your free copy ⬇️

Checking sources, rinse and repeat. Real journalism is so much more reliable than an influencer.