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The Future of Journalism in the Inland Empire

The Future of Journalism: IE Journalism Hub+Fund Launches with Dean Baquet and Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds.

Redlands, CA – Local journalism is the lifeblood of healthy communities, holding institutions accountable, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering a shared understanding of the issues that matter most. As traditional newsrooms grapple with shrinking resources, misinformation, and increasing competition, innovative solutions are urgently needed to sustain the vital role of local news. The Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund, an ambitious new initiative, officially launched its efforts to meet these challenges head-on during a dynamic kickoff event at the Redlands Forum on June 3, 2024.

The event featured a conversation between Dean Baquet, former Executive Editor of The New York Times, and Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures and the leader of the IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund. Together, they explored the transformative role of local journalism in strengthening democracy and strategies for reinvigorating the Inland Empire’s media landscape. Baquet highlighted the importance of local newsrooms in fostering informed civic engagement, emphasizing that “communities thrive when their stories are told by trusted, independent voices rooted in the places they serve.”

The IE Journalism Hub+Fund is a regional chapter of Press Forward, a national movement committing over $500 million in five years to revitalize local journalism. Housed at the Inland Empire Community Foundation, the Hub is uniquely positioned to address the Inland Empire’s specific information needs. With support from national and local funders, it aims to empower independent journalists, locally-owned media organizations, and diverse storytellers to rebuild trust, combat misinformation, and improve access to timely, impactful news.

Dr. Brown-Hinds described the Hub’s mission as “not just preserving local journalism but reimagining it for the Inland Empire.” She underscored the region’s potential as a model for collaborative storytelling and community-driven journalism. By pooling resources, scaling innovative ideas, and amplifying underrepresented voices, the Hub seeks to tackle systemic challenges and deliver stories that inspire positive change.

Local chapters like the IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund play a critical role in Press Forward’s mission by tailoring national support to authentically local strategies. As Baquet noted, “The solutions to rebuilding local journalism will be rooted in the communities themselves, driven by those who know their audience and their challenges best.”

The event also underscored the need for sustained investment, innovative public policies, and diverse revenue models to rebuild America’s local news infrastructure. The Hub plans to foster collaboration among independent journalists, media professionals, and community stakeholders to strengthen the Inland Empire’s civic engagement and storytelling capacity.

As the Journalism Hub+Fund begins its journey, it invites the Inland Empire’s residents, donors, and media professionals to join this transformative effort. Together, they aim to shape a future where accurate, inclusive, and impactful journalism empowers every corner of the community.

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