This bit of good news was delivered to me via The New York Times’ newsletter, The Morning, on December 22, 2023. In their piece about the rise of independent journalism, the section “Journalism to savor” (below) was the sidebar. You can read the article HERE. They will give you access to one free peek, so click when you have time to explore.
News vs Journalism
I explored the NYT’s article with hope and skepticism. There have been some “news” agencies created in recent years by special interests to pander to special interests. I was concerned this may be more of the same tilted quasi-news. I was not interested in more of that.
Online news seems to me to be a few paragraphs with very little information beyond whatever could be crammed into the headline and released right NOW to garner a click. The clicks make the advertisers happy. And there are pop-ups…so very many pop-ups.
There has always been a race to release news first. Watch any c. 1940 movie with a “cub reporter” out to get the “scoop” and you will have a vivid picture of what is happening inside my head as I type this.
The race used to be controlled by a lengthy reporting process—verifying content and researching the news piece to find additional information to support and contextualize the item being reported. A news item traveled through many hands to reach the public. At every stage production it was examined, read and questioned. There was also a guiding question asked by the editor, “is this news important to the audience?”
What I found as I explored The New York Times’ article was a network of journalists—people interviewing, researching, confirming via multiple sources—reporting what was happening locally, regionally, and nationally. Grassroots news created by people who appreciate and practice a form of proper journalism that could be considered “slow” news. The care and expenditure of time improves the quality of the news so that it provides helpful and complete information.
What Makes These Sources “Independent”?
The article explained that the featured independent news sources were established as 501c3 non-profit organizations to keep them out from under the influence of politics, business, and/or other self-interested parties.
The question “is this news important to our audience?” can be explored by a staff independent from the influences of a managing body telling them what they have to report based on who is funding the work.
Realistically, the voice of each writer will still contain their lifetime of personal experience and, maybe, their opinions. That is not a bad thing because a taste of a writer’s “voice” differentiates one writer from another. In an organization dedicated to journalism, however, that article will be reviewed by editors and other members of staff to check facts and perhaps to temper the writer’s opinion(s) about the news they are reporting. The full process returns professional integrity through an editorial and collaborative process to the resulting news. The combination of time and consistent, accurate reporting can rebuild a public trust in independent news agencies. A trust that has foundered and left our civility in the dust.
It’s a Sliding Scale
In fairness, I know there are still great journalists working within the framework of traditional media. Their in-depth reporting sometimes comes through the cacophony of news bits, and I really enjoy reading what they have to report.
News reporting is a sliding scale. No matter the source, it is up to the reader to discern truth from fiction. Part of a journalist’s job is to provide the resources for individuals to verify the truth. They may not be able to reveal their sources in some situations, but they had better be able to provide sources of independent confirmation they have researched.
Establishing an Independent News Organization
If your community lacks a reliable, independent news source, and you would like to explore the opportunities around independent journalism, please consult the Institute for Nonprofit News website – https://inn.org
If you are interested in reading news from an independent news source: https://findyournews.org/campaign/inn-network-directory/ The Find Your News website is available via inn.org’s site as well.
An excerpt from The New York Times’ sidebar:
Journalism to savor
In the Hunter Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, idle freight trains blocked a main road, sometimes for more than 30 hours. — Capital B News
In Colorado, a libertarian “food freedom” movement has re-energized a long battle over unpasteurized milk. — The Colorado Sun
A city manager used political muscle and a community’s trust to remake DuBois, Pa., while granting himself raises, engaging in conflicts of interest, and allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. — Spotlight PA
After a busing debacle in Jefferson County, Ky., caused school closures, two reporters followed one school bus trying to complete an impossible route. — Louisville Public Media
A Bible at a retirement facility piqued an Indianola bookseller’s curiosity, sending her on a journey to learn how a 318-year-old Scottish family Bible ended up in central Iowa. — The Indianola Independent Advocate
Black Californians in the 1800s took extraordinary measures to escape slavery and make California a place of belonging. — Shasta Scout
A 10-year-old and his father were exploring a Rhode Island bike path when they found a species of mushroom that had never before been recorded in the state. — ecoRI News
City officials in Atlanta have made multiple false claims about their “environmental stewardship” of its public safety training center, dubbed “Cop City.” — The Xylom
The federal government’s installation of lights in one stretch of southern Arizona, meant to help border agents, is threatening to spoil the night sky of a nearby biosphere reserve. — Arizona Luminaria
An investigative report of wage theft in New York State uncovered rampant abuse in the horse racing industry, with repeat offenders owing workers over $4.4 million. — Documented
Prisoners in China’s central Hunan Province were paid pennies to make work gloves bearing the brand of Milwaukee Tool, a company with a nearly 100-year history in Wisconsin. — Wisconsin Watch
An investigation into Chicago’s rat management found a short-staffed bureau ill equipped to handle complaints or conduct inspections. — Block Club Chicago
Bob Lewis, who’s 95, loved his job at Washington Elementary School in Westfield, N.J. When he was fired, the community rallied. — TAPinto Westfield
A two-year investigation revealed how the Chicago police often delay and mishandle missing-persons cases — and how poor data is making the problem harder to solve. — City Bureau and the Invisible Institute
In Lebanon, Pa., the orthodontists Rob and Lindsay Wertz bought Wertz Candies — no relation — continuing its nearly century-old legacy. — Lebtown
Nevada beavers, considered a nuisance for decades, now seem to be key to restoring the state’s damaged wetlands. — The Nevada Independent
Supporters, and some critics, agree Montana’s director of public health and human services is whip-smart and politically astute. How he wants to overhaul Montana’s broken behavioral health system is less clear. — Montana Free Press