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The Statewide News Collective

The Statewide News Collective is a community for news organizations serving statewide audiences.

A colorful map of the United States

The Statewide News Collective addresses the unique challenges facing news organizations that serve an entire state. It provides mentorship, peer support, and the exchange of information on news coverage, content distribution, revenue creation, product development and more. 

There are currently 34 publishers representing 28 states in the Collective. Participants share best practices and opportunities for collaboration, discuss news coverage initiatives, identify strategies for supporting distributed staffs, and share technology, product, and sustainable revenue development plans. 

The Collective was founded in 2022 by The Lenfest Institute, RevLab at The Texas Tribune, and Spotlight PA. 

News organizations serving an entire state or with a focus on statewide issues have unique needs compared to local or metro organizations. At the Statewide News Collective’s kickoff event in May 2022, opening discussions focused on developing new audiences, expanding product offerings, diversifying revenue streams, and supporting distributed workforces. 

Participants identified the following core questions for further exploration across their operations: 

  • Audience: How do statewide publishers engage untapped or underserved audiences and meet their information needs in an equitable way? Are there opportunities to widen the top of the funnel and reach audiences beyond highly engaged readers already invested in state coverage? What are effective republishing strategies to partner with local news organizations? 
  • Product: Can members prioritize and share news products, build news products for portability at a low cost, and share information on new and useful tools and technology? 
  • Revenue: How can members share information and best practices on fundraising messaging and tactics? What are some strategies to expand donor bases and membership? How should publishers approach donor stewardship and retention across their states? What’s the best way to track and report impact to funders? How can publishers leverage editorial events as money makers? 
  • People and culture: How can publishers build organizational culture in a new era of distributed and remote workforces? What’s the best way to manage growing staffs and facilitate training when employees are spread across an entire state? How can news organizations advance diversity, equity, and representation in recruitment and retention of employees? How do news organizations grow while managing burnout?

Statewide News Collective members

  • The Assembly (North Carolina)
  • AZ Luminaria
  • Bridge Michigan
  • CalMatters
  • Capitol News Illinois
  • Carolina Public Press
  • The Colorado Sun
  • CT Mirror
  • Enlace Latino NC
  • Flatwater Free Press
  • Honolulu Civil Beat
  • KOSU
  • The Maine Monitor
  • MinnPost
  • Mississippi Free Press
  • Mississippi Today
  • Montana Free Press
  • Mountain State Spotlight
  • The Nevada Independent
  • New Hampshire Public Radio
  • New Mexico In Depth
  • New York Focus
  • NJ Spotlight News
  • Oklahoma Watch
  • Sahan Journal
  • The Salt Lake Tribune
  • Spotlight Delaware
  • Spotlight PA
  • The Texas Tribune
  • Vermont Public
  • Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism
  • VTDigger
  • Wisconsin Watch
  • WyoFile

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