KPBS in San Diego is participating in an American Press Institute program to help newsrooms serve and engage diverse communities.
KPBS and four other participating newsrooms will “test new strategies to build relationships with underserved communities, rebuild trust, diversify sources and coverage, experiment with new platforms, and deliver Spanish-language content,” according to a press release.
“It is crucial that these organizations improve their relationships with diverse communities — crucial for the sustainability of these organizations and in contributing to the well-being of their whole communities,” Emily Ristow, API’s director of local news transformation, said in the release. “We are proud to be working with these organizations, our coaches and the Maynard Institute in supporting this important work.”
The five-month “communities sprint” program is funded by The Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, a joint initiative of the Knight Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Participants will receive support from four coaches, including Lacey Daley, digital strategy manager at Boise State Public Radio.
“What makes this program unique is that we’re being intentional about relationship-building as a goal with these communities, which feels like a subtle and yet profound distinction,” said Martin G. Reynolds, co-executive director of the Maynard Institute, in the release. “In our conversations, we are being real about the significance of that challenge, and discussing harm that some outlets may have inflicted on communities over the years. The willingness on the part of these outlets to acknowledge their legacies — which vary significantly — is a huge step in helping them evolve, develop new products that inform, and to forge relationships to better understand and serve diverse communities.”
The participating organizations will receive free licenses for use of Source Matters, API’s source diversity tool.