Sewell Chan’s Post

Measuring a news organization’s community impact can be tricky. And it becomes even more complicated when an outlet covers an entire state. To try and wrap our arms around the ways statewide news organizations are making a difference in their communities, the Statewide News Collective partnered with Danny Hayes, a political science professor at George Washington University, to study the community impact of three statewide news organizations – New Hampshire Public Radio, The Center For Michigan | Bridge Michigan | BridgeDetroit, and Montana Free Press. Among the key findings: 🤝 SNC outlets receive high marks for trustworthiness and for addressing key issues; 🗣 SNC outlets make significant contributions to their states’ information environments, with stories being widely shared beyond core readers; 💡 Readers of statewide news orgs are better informed about state and local issues and more likely to engage in civic activity than those who get news from other sources; ⭐️ SNC outlets leave a lasting impact, with many readers able to recall specific stories that prompted them to do deeper research or take action. Read the full report ⬇️

An excellent article by Kyle Baenstose in the Chestnut Hill Local, led me to ask the following questions. However, the most important question is why did not a city wide paper or national paper followed this issue. This proves the worth of local journalism. Write to EPA Region III if you think there is an injustice here. David Dear Ms. Robinson, I read with interest the article by Kyle Bagenstose.  I do not have Kyle's contact information. So I direct these questions to you, so that you may direct them to Kyle.  To give you perspective, I was the EPA Region III Associate Director for NPDES Permits and Enforcement during the time in question when PWD developed and implemented its LTCP.  The following are a number of facts and questions that you should pursue using FOIA authority: 1) EPA issued a number of information requests regarding the formulation of PWD's Long Term Control Plan. The reason for these information requests was that EPA was not confident that PWD's plan could achieve the requirements of the CSO policy which later became part of the statute.  2) Based upon the information provided and EPA's analysis, EPA had prepared a referral for a civil action against PWD for the failure of its LTCP to meet federal requirements. 3) Administrator Jackson after attending a Green Summit in Brazil with Mayor Nutter and PWD's Howard Neukrug, directed the Regional Administrator, Shawn Garvin, to kill the civil referral to the Department of Justice.  4) There are three PWD NPDES Permits that have been expired for 10 years, the dates escape me.  EPA objected to the permits issued by PaDEP SE Regional Office as the permits failed to comply with the CSO policy and NPDES regulations. In particular, the permits would have not provided protection to the underserved communities of Cobbs Creek. PWD maintained that it was under no obligation to protect all communities to the same level. PaDEP failed to make the necessary modifications within the specified period of time, nor did it request a public hearing to dispute EPA's findings. Under statute and regulation, EPA should have issued the three permits that comply with NPDES regulation and statute. EPA failed to do that and continues to fail to do that. In summary, the technical position, not political position is that the PWD green infrastructure approach was ill conceived and doomed to failure. EPA had discussed the matter extensively with PWD, but was overruled by political appointees.  EPA has supported an approach grounded in science that incorporates necessary grey infrastructure supplemented by green to achieve water quality objectives. In fact it encouraged Washington and Pittsburgh to do just that. Washington is largely done it's LTCP and has achieved water quality standards. People are swimming in the Anacostia. You should look into this in more depth, as it is an example of political interference with science. David B. McGuigan, Ph.D.

Newspapers across the country are dying off at a rapid pace—a loss that carries real risks for their communities and the environment. However, creative approaches are emerging to help fill the gaps, as nonprofit newsrooms and alternative funding models gain steam. Report for America, which launched in 2017 and has shared the cost of placing reporters in nearly 400 newsrooms, continues to expand. “There’s no one formula for saving local news,” Kimberly Kleman says, “but there are a lot of great experiments going on.” https://lnkd.in/eT6Gm2pT via National Audubon Society #journalism #environment #climate

Thanks, Jim! Much gratitude to Editor & Publisher (E&P) Magazine for giving us space to talk about these issues. Interested in joining our working group in the new year? Let me know! #journalism #localnews

Calling All Environmental Journalists & Content Creators! 🤯 We Need Your Voice! The ClimateCreators Hub is conducting a Needs Assessment Survey to better understand the challenges and opportunities you face in your work. Your insights will help us create tailored training programs, resources, and collaborative opportunities to support you. Why Participate? ✅Help shape the future of environmental journalism and content creation. ✅Gain access to resources that directly address your needs. ✅Contribute to a community that empowers and uplifts each other. How You Can Help: 📌Fill Out the Survey using the link below. 📌Share/Repost the Survey with fellow environmental journalists and content creators. 🔗 LINK: https://lnkd.in/d_Wmium3 Your voice matters👌 #journalism #storytelling #climatechange #contentcreator

A Press for the Planet: Journalism’s Vital Role Amidst the Environmental Crisis As we observe World Press Freedom Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge the indispensable role of journalism in addressing the environmental crisis. This year’s theme, “A Press for the Planet,” highlights the urgency with which the press must act to inform, educate, and inspire action for the health of our planet. Journalists are at the forefront of uncovering environmental challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss. They bring to light stories of resilience and innovation, while also holding accountable those responsible for environmental degradation. In the spirit of today’s theme, I call upon media professionals and organizations to intensify their commitment to environmental reporting. It’s through persistent and courageous journalism that we can foster a more informed society, ready to act for the sustainability of our world. Let’s use our platforms to amplify the voices that matter and the stories that need to be told. Together, we can ensure that environmental journalism remains a force for change, guiding us towards a more sustainable and just future. To all journalists worldwide: your courage in telling the truth makes a difference. Wish you a safe and free Press Freedom Day. #WorldPressFreedomDay #environmentaljournalism #Sustainability #PressFreedom #PressFreedomDay

Here's a peek into what I've been up to: Say hello to The 19th News Network! Today we're launching a new collective of national, regional and local publishers who share in our mission of advancing gender and racial equity in journalism with 25 (!!) founding members. Publishers joining The 19th News Network will have the opportunity to partner with us in three ways: Republishing: Partners may receive exclusive, early access to 19th stories available for republication, as well as editing support from our partnerships team and tailored pitching to fit the needs of their newsrooms. Curation: We may feature partner stories across The 19th’s website, social media and newsletters, driving a diverse and engaged readership to our partners’ content. Examples include partner bylines from The Hechinger Report, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Honolulu Civil Beat, Stateline and Inside Climate News, to name a few. Collaboration: With a team reporting from across the country, our newsroom knows that political stories are better told when we can get off the coasts and on the ground in places directly affected by policy outcomes. We will work with partners to identify opportunities to co-report stories about the impacts of policy on communities across our nation. Want to hear more? Let's talk. I want to see what we can build together. https://lnkd.in/gT5pbc4x

It's an honor to contribute some year-end advice for the LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers community. I loved working with this organization and their publishers in 2023. Here's my tip: 🕰️ Set aside one to two hours each week to look outside your publication, seek new resources, and learn about the business of media. This may seem like a luxury in the midst of multiple deadlines, but there are tangible benefits to blocking this time. 🗞️Local news, by nature, is restricted in scope. By dedicating this time to looking elsewhere, you seek external resources –– such as LION’s online courses, new grant and partnership opportunities, best practice guides, or peer publications outside your region. 🔭 Most importantly, this will enable you to zoom out and plan for your publication’s long-term future. 🙌And yes, I practice what I preach. In fact, these reading and research sessions are one of the best parts of my week.

Sometimes this feels like watching a horrible disaster movie in slow-motion. The death of local newsrooms is painful and will have dire consequences. But -- ever the optimist! -- I (and so many of us who believe in the power of journalism) will keep sharing stories like this one, which offers a slight glimmer of hope in the form of young journalists rising up through the ranks, determined despite all the obstacles. Still, the situation remains bleak. Consider this passage from the story: >>News craters ... exist throughout the country — and they’re only getting worse, according to the State of Local News 2023 report from the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University. ... Among the alarming findings: --More than half of the nation’s 3,143 counties have no local news source or only one remaining outlet. --The country has lost 2,900 newspapers — nearly one-third — since 2005. --We’re losing 2.5 newspapers per week, a rate that’s accelerating. --Alternative local news outlets have not been viable replacements for shuttered papers, especially in non-metro areas. << Support local journalism, people. We'll regret it if we don't.

The Bay Area lost a journalism legend yesterday. Gary Richards, better known as Mr. Roadshow, spent the last 30-plus years helping #BayArea drivers make sense of our crazy local roadways. Starting as a transportation columnist for the San Jose Mercury News (The Mercury News) and later expanding to the East Bay Times, Mr. Roadshow used his near-daily column to adeptly answer readers' #traffic, #transit, and roadway questions with his unique blend of self-deprecating humor. He’d often rope in his trusty Toyota Prius and Mrs. Roadshow for reader meetups, gas price guessing games, and much more. But he was most skilled at breaking down complex transportation concepts for his readers and reaching deep into his vast network of political leaders, pubic agency heads, and local public works employees to fix things immediately. He's heard and solved everything from pervasive potholes to malfunctioning metering lights and misbehaving ground loop sensors to publicly chastising slow drivers in the fast lane – darn you, road boulders! I have been an avid reader of his column since I was a kid (imagine a younger me reading a newspaper) and have had the privilege of seeing a few of my questions published in his column. I credit him for teaching me to keep asking why, the importance of service journalism, how to push our elected leaders to do better, to learn all about the ins and outs of our public infrastructure, and how to listen. The last point is the most poignant one. No matter the issue, reading his column was like conversing with a funny, wise friend. His writing style was like a casual conversation – never a lecture, always informative – and you always walked away having learned something new every time. His column was a public town square where every road user’s opinion was respected and heard, whether from a police officer, agency spokesperson, or frustrated driver. I will miss reading his columns regularly. And I genuinely believe our transportation infrastructure, particularly in the #SouthBay, is better off today than it would’ve been without Gary's decades-long advocacy work. https://lnkd.in/db73e-Ed