The Rapidian

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The Rapidian is an online platform for citizen journalism, where community members can share positive stories about their neighborhoods and post calendar listings of events in Western Michigan. The Rapidian aims to fill the void in a local “news desert” that lacks daily newspaper. A collaboration between Grand Rapids Television (GRTV), WCYE-FM and The Wealthy Theater, The Rapidian offers media literacy and community journalism training to individuals and nonprofits, in order to foster local pride and civic engagement, and unify a diverse community.

The Slice

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The Slice is a digital project from WDSE, Duluth, MN, that reflects the unique character, events, and experiences found in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Episodes of The Slice are often captured while gathering b-roll for other local programming. The format allows snippets of video to be shared at appropriate lengths for social media consumption. The most popular clips of the month are sent to members and supporters through the monthly e-newsletter.

Claudia Rodriguez Biezunski

Only Here

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The “Only Here” podcast provides an intimate look at one of the world’s busiest border crossings, where San Diego and Tijuana meet. Over time, the podcast has attracted an audience on both sides of the border with stories about the culture and creativity forged in this tense region. Hosted by a member of a bilingual hip-hop band in Tijuana, the podcast deepens understanding and connection between listeners on both sides of the border.

One Greater Minnesota

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Twin Cities PBS (TPT) launched the multi-year reporting initiative, One Greater Minnesota, to engage a broad, statewide audience in learning more about the many ways Minnesota communities are interconnected. Since its on-air launch, OGM has produced a total of 140 pieces for digital and statewide broadcast distribution – including full-length video reports, written articles, social media posts, and more. Segments online, on-air, and public forums foster civic participation, cultivate a more respectful civic environment, and aim to enhance public media programming in Minnesota.

San Diegan Allison Justice is applying her green thumb to a very green enterprise.

KPBS Explore Local Content Project

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KPBS launched the “Explore” program in 2012 as an experiment to grow the station’s library of local programs while cultivating new, young and diverse talent. Every two years, KPBS opens a community-wide call for content ideas and offers seed funding to create local TV shows, web series and podcasts. The producers retain ownership of their project and are responsible for raising the extra funds needed to stay afloat. The program has spawned four podcasts and more than a dozen TV and web series.

TPToriginals.org

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Twin Cities PBS put a stake in the ground with the launch of TPToriginals.org. The site showcases the station’s extensive library of local productions. It also serves as a learning laboratory for developing digital-first, short-form video storytelling aimed at engaging Minnesota audiences that may not see themselves or their communities reflected in broadcast programming. The site provides a steady stream of local content that triggers pride of place, shares and challenges viewers’ perspectives on what it means to call this state home.

The Bay

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The Bay podcast is a space for local news to breathe. The Bay offers voices and perspectives rarely heard inmedia, and engages listeners through callouts, voice memos, phone calls and social media. The Bay has hosted several well-attended live events, including a storytelling event on California wildfires (with Snap Judgment); a live podcast taping about housing in the Bay Area; and two happy hours with listeners in San Francisco and Oakland. Since its February 2018 launch, the Bay has had more than 2 million downloads.

A Parent’s Guide to Public Schools (2019 Finalist)

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A Parent’s Guide to Public Schools is a free “consumer report” tool, distributed to 50,000 families to aid parents in making decisions about their childrens’ education. The Guide, produced in English and Spanish, provides an overview of every local public school’s performance in easy-to-read charts, with answers to basic questions about public school options. VOSD works UC San Diego to analyze the school performance data and with the San Diego Workforce Partnership to cover topics like vocational training. Read Current’s coverage of this project.

Local Switchboard NYC

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Local Switchboard NYC is a collective of women who produce multimedia content for and by the communities of New York City’s varied boroughs. Local journalists and community members are trained in audio production so they can cover their own neighborhoods and tell stories often overlooked and underreported by larger media organizations. This new initiative was piloted at WBAI-FM.