INN Days
June 8-9, 2023
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
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Happening alongside and in partnership with the Collaborative Journalism Summit. Learn more.
It’s been four years since we last gathered together in person for INN Days. Since then, nonprofit news has sustained its growth, with more people served than ever before. The 400+ newsrooms of the INN Network have emerged from the global pandemic and a tumultuous election cycle with practices and visions to address ground-shifting changes within the world and communities they serve.
This year, INN brought together news leaders, journalism supporters, and civic innovators in-person to explore how nonprofit news organizations are expanding services, refining funding models, and working collectively to achieve growth and civic impact.
INN Days took place alongside and in partnership with the Collaborative Journalism Summit, hosted by the Center for Cooperative Media. The summit took place on June 6-7, followed by INN Days on June 8-9.
Questions? Please reach out to our INN Days team at gatherings@inn.org.
Watch the recordings of our four plenaries.
It’s no secret that local news is declining, but what new models are sprouting in its stead? We’ll look at people in the nonprofit field and beyond who are taking different approaches to rebuilding local news with something new.
Can community-centered media reduce misinformation and boost civic engagement in Spanish-speaking communities? Hear what a political scientist and three Spanish-language nonprofit news outlets discovered about the connection between business models, innovation and the impact of local media.
When the national narrative of political divides filters down to the local level, what is a news outlet to do? Author James Fallows will lead news publishers in a conversation about how local news can bind—rather than separate—people of different political persuasions.
Hear from nonprofit news funders and philanthropic leaders on different strategies for investing in nonprofit journalism. Through engaging discussions, they will articulate the vision for their approach and provide valuable insight about what they see as needed for building a more robust funding ecosystem for news.
Click through the agenda below. You can also view the full program as a PDF here.
Connect with fellow attendees and enjoy delicious food and drinks on the Hotel Hive rooftop.
Location: Hotel Hive, 2224 F St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Brought to you by Democracy Fund
It’s no secret that local news is declining, but what new models are
sprouting in its stead? We’ll look at people in the nonprofit field
and beyond who are taking different approaches to rebuilding local
news with something new.
Speakers: Delano Massey (Axios), Emily Sachar (The Daily Catch), Nicolás Ríos (Documented)
Moderator: Sean Rameswaram (Vox)
This is a showcase of fundraising collectives that are building
structures together and finding success around attracting major donors and large grants, building messaging campaigns and
creating greater efficiencies along the way.
Speakers: Andrew Ramsammy (Local Media Association/Word In Black), Melanie Plenda (Granite State News Collaborative), Sonya Quick (CalMatters)
Moderator: Stephanie Schenkel (Institute for Nonprofit News)
This isn’t parachute journalism. Instead, nonprofit newsrooms
are building in-depth coverage with reporters who live in the
same small communities where they work. Learn how leaders are
prioritizing the safety and well-being of people who don’t (or can’t) pack up and leave town at the end of the day.
Speakers: Yukari Kane (Prison Journalism Project), Laxmi Parthasarathy (Global Press), Nina Misuraca Ignaczak (Planet Detroit)
Moderator: Sara Shahriari (Institute for Nonprofit News)
What are the major pitfalls a nonprofit news founder should avoid? What are the critical steps a startup needs to take? In this session,
one founder unearths key lessons learned from two nonprofit news
founders, LION, and the Google News Initiative. Sponsored by Google News Initiative
Speakers: Irene McKisson (Arizona Luminaria), Nissa Rhee (Borderless Magazine NFP), Lisa Heyamoto (LION Publishers), Tina Xiao (Google News Initiative)
Moderator: Krystal Knapp (The Jersey Vindicator)
The Salt Lake Tribune has consistently expanded its audience with a
sharp focus on strategies that can work for any newsroom. The session
will share the playbook for how to rally everyone around simple
content strategies and distribution tactics that make a difference.
Speaker: Lauren Gustus (The Salt Lake Tribune)
The public benefits from free news, but it creates issues for organizations investing in original reporting. This session will explore when to offer
republication rights, take advantage of other INN members’ reporting
and create policies that bolster your position, authority and reach.
Speakers: Joel Abrams (The Conversation U.S.)
Moderator: Dylan Smith (Tucson Sentinel)
Charlottesville Tomorrow and Outlier Media recently completed
rebranding efforts that led to record levels of giving for their organizations. They’ll break down what led to the rebrand, the steps they took, and the ultimate outcomes (Hint! It’s more than just a new logo).
Speakers: Michaux Hood (Charlottesville Tomorrow), Candice Fortman (Outlier Media)
Moderator: Courtney Lewis (Institute for Nonprofit News)
New data from the INN Index 2023 show how revenue across the nonprofit news sector expands to sustain more outlets and more staff. Learn about the latest trends, opportunities and challenges for nonprofit news in the years ahead. This session takes a deeper look at our sector’s growth and the state of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Speakers: Emily Roseman (Institute for Nonprofit News), Jesse Holcomb (Calvin University)
Collaborations enable newsrooms to produce impactful journalism through shared resources, dedicated funding and tools to reach new audiences. Learn what it takes to participate, details about the process, co-fundraising opportunities, the tribulations and payoffs.
Facilitators: Allison Levine (Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware), Sara Hebel (Open Campus), Alana Rocha (Institute for Nonprofit News), Lisa Gardner-Springer (Institute for Nonprofit News), Scott Elliott (Consultant), Joshua Wise (Public News Service), Laura Frank (Colorado News Collaborative), Jenny Jacklin-Stratton (CatchLight)
Making local reporting accessible and immediately useful to those
it serves requires engagement beyond clicks. In this session, Resolve
Philly and MLK50: Justice Through Journalism will share the tools
and best practices they use to weave community engagement and listening into their reporting.
Speakers: Wendi Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism), Jingyao Yu (Resolve Philly)
Moderator: Derrick Cain (Resolve Philly)
East Lansing Info and Eden Prairie Local News convened
hyperlocal newsrooms around long-term sustainability and
serving communities more effectively. Come for best practices on
journalistic impact, financial health and organizational resilience.
Leave as an alliance to meet our unique challenges.
Speakers: Steve Schewe (Eden Prairie Local News),
Alice Dreger (East Lansing Info)
Moderator: Bia Medious (Institute for Nonprofit News)
Nonprofit publishers are faced with enormous challenges but
perhaps none as great as building and maintaining a solid financial
base. Learn how Newspack publishers are converting readers into
loyal visitors and supporters by leveraging the platform’s email,
membership, donation and other tools.
Speakers: Kim Bode (Newspack / Automattic), Vandana Kumar (India Currents), Irene McKisson (Arizona Luminaria), Norberto Santana (Voice of OC)
Hear from nonprofit media leaders and thought partners that are rethinking and reinventing the traditional top-down, hierarchical
approach of newsroom operations—everything from editorial
processes to HR—to transform the policies and culture of their
workplaces and give their staff more power and buy-in.
Speakers: Jean Friedman-Rudovsky (Resolve Philly),
Fareed Mostoufi (Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting), John Davidow (Media Bridge Partners)
Moderator: Tara Francis Chan (The Appeal)
Can community-centered media reduce misinformation and boost
civic engagement in Spanish-speaking communities? Hear what
a political scientist and three Spanish-language nonprofit news
outlets discovered about the connection between business models,
innovation and the impact of local media.
Speakers: Angelica Sanibañez-Mendez (Enlace Latino NC), Madeleine Bair (El Tímpano), Maritza L. Félix (Conecta Arizona)
Yamil Velez (Columbia University)
When the national narrative of political divides filters down to the
local level, what is a news outlet to do? Author James Fallows will
lead news publishers in a conversation about how local news can
bind—rather than separate—people of different political persuasions
Speakers: Robert Moore (El Paso Matters), Wendi Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism)
Moderator: James Fallows (Breaking the News, Substack)
Learn how to support legislative efforts in your state and help to promote long-term sustainability and accessibility of quality local
journalism. Panelists will share various approaches, demystify
policy-making mechanisms and discuss the role advocacy can play in bolstering local news ecosystems. Sponsored by Microsoft
Speakers: Ginny Badanes (Microsoft),
Anna Brugmann (Rebuild Local News), Jim Malewitz (Wisconsin Watch)
What happens when you can finally see the big picture of your organization’s relationship with its audience? From newsletters to
events and donations, a modest investment showed Science Friday how its many audience touchpoints connect to build meaningful
relationships and forward its mission.
Speakers: Ariel Zych (Science Friday), Caitlin Lee (Caitlin Lee Consulting)
Hear from a few of the newsrooms within the Rural News Network who continue to follow the storylines that originated in a collaboration – why they do it, how and the results.
Speakers: Trip Jennings (New Mexico In Depth), Donna Ladd (Mississippi Free Press). Courtney Teague (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Moderator: Alana Rocha (Institute for Nonprofit News)
In this hands-on workshop, the News Revenue Hub team will teach
you how to utilize key metrics to set effective fundraising targets and guide you through establishing relevant fundraising goals for your organization.
Speakers: Abbey Gingras & Will Warren (News Revenue Hub)
Hear from nonprofit news funders and philanthropic leaders on
different strategies for investing in nonprofit journalism. Through
engaging discussions, they will articulate the vision for their
approach and provide valuable insight about what they see as needed for building a more robust funding ecosystem for news.
Speakers: Karen Rundlet (Knight Foundation), Sarabeth Berman (American Journalism Project), Tyler Tokarczyk (Inasmuch Foundation), Kina Collins (Democratizing Philanthropy Project)
Moderator: Courtney Lewis (Institute for Nonprofit News)
In 2022, INN Days attracted more than 700 virtual registrants and generated more than 200 one-on-one connections. See last year’s conference program.
View available videos and resources from past conferences below.
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