How to Solve Local Journalism’s Money Problem

Tell us what we've missed! The unconference is a chance for registered attendees to propose conversations on topics we may not have covered elsewhere.

The advertising model of journalism is dying. Even the biggest media players are locked in a race to the bottom. In order for journalism to thrive again, we need a new model to support journalism in the public interest.

That model already exists in the form of special districts. Special districts provide communities with firefighting services; utilities like water, gas, and electricity; and schools. Join us for a conversation about how this model can support the development of news and information services that put community first and offer a sustainable source of revenue for journalism at local, regional, and maybe even national levels.

We invite ONA attendees who work in non-profit news, public media, community engagement, local publishing, and any other field to join.

We believe community information districts are the key to financing the future of quality local journalism.

Simon Galperin is pursuing an M.A. in Social Journalism at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the co-founder of Muckgers, a digital-first college newspaper covering Rutgers University. Previously, he was the senior editor at Jerrick Media, a digital media startup, and founding editorial strategist at NJ Spark, a social justice journalism lab based at Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information.

Joe Amditis is pursuing an M.A. in Social Journalism at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the associate director of The Center Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. He is also the co-founder of Muckgers, a digital-first college newspaper covering Rutgers University.