NEWS

How to Rebuild Local News in the Inland Empire
How to rebuild local news:
The path to revitalizing local journalism requires bold thinking, innovative approaches, and a deep commitment to collaboration. These themes were front and center at a recent townhall hosted by the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund, featuring Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures, and Steven Waldman, president of Rebuild Local News. The event, titled How to Rebuild Local News in the Inland Empire, explored actionable strategies to strengthen local journalism and showcased the transformative role of public policy in creating sustainable media ecosystems.
Dr. Brown-Hinds opened the discussion by emphasizing that local journalism is essential for informed civic engagement and accountability. “The Inland Empire’s stories deserve to be told, and those stories must be told by trusted, independent voices rooted in the communities they serve,” she stated. Her call to action focused on leveraging collaboration and innovation to overcome the challenges facing local media, including funding constraints, competition, and a shrinking workforce.
Steven Waldman provided a national perspective, highlighting the alarming decline of local newsrooms across the country. He emphasized that rebuilding local journalism cannot rely solely on market forces. “We need to rethink traditional approaches and innovate, but public policy must also play a role. Journalism is a public good, and supporting it requires intentional efforts at every level,” Waldman explained.
Collaboration: The Foundation for Success
Both speakers agreed that collaboration is a cornerstone of rebuilding local news. Dr. Brown-Hinds emphasized the importance of partnerships between media organizations, community groups, and educational institutions to pool resources and amplify impact. She pointed to the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund as a prime example of how regional initiatives can bring together diverse stakeholders to strengthen local storytelling.
Waldman echoed this sentiment, noting that collaboration allows for sharing ideas and scaling successful models across regions. He highlighted the value of national and local funders working in tandem to address systemic challenges, stating, “Communities like the Inland Empire are where innovation happens. Local voices must be at the center of these solutions.”
Rethinking and Innovating Local Journalism
The conversation also focused on the need to rethink traditional media models and embrace innovation to address the unique challenges of the Inland Empire. Dr. Brown-Hinds advocated for integrating new technologies, such as AI and data journalism, to enhance reporting and engage audiences. She also stressed the importance of developing revenue models tailored to the needs of independent journalists and locally owned outlets, such as partnerships with local businesses and philanthropy.
Waldman outlined policy solutions to catalyze these innovations, including:
- Nonprofit Models: Expanding opportunities for media organizations to adopt nonprofit status, enabling them to access philanthropic funding.
- Government Advertising: Directing public agency advertising to local outlets to provide steady revenue streams.
A Vision for the Future
The townhall concluded with a shared vision of a future where local journalism thrives through collaboration, innovation, and strong public policy. Dr. Brown-Hinds highlighted the role of the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund in leading this effort, calling on journalists, funders, and community leaders to unite in support of authentic, impactful storytelling.