The document outlines 9 types of news and information projects that community foundations have created: 1) Community archives that allow citizens to contribute information for public access, 2) Action centers that encourage residents to improve their communities, 3) Contests that engage voices and raise awareness of local issues, 4) Using mobile technology to reach non-desktop users, 5) Making data easy to understand communities, 6) Enabling citizen media sharing, 7) Storytelling that motivates community action, 8) Partnering with universities for student journalism, 9) Supporting independent nonprofit or public media. The document encourages sharing new project ideas and offers help from Knight Circuit Riders.

1. Nine Types of News & Info Projects
Thinking about getting started?
Looking to branch out? Let’s look at
nine projects community foundations
have created.
By Michele McLellan
Knight Circuit Rider & Knight Digital Media Center

2. 1. Community archive
Enable local citizens and organizations to
contribute important community information
so others can access it.
www.thoughtbox.org
www.blackhillsknowledgenetwork.com

3. 2. Action center
Encourage residents can take action to improve
their communities.
www.growwny.org
www.parkcitygreen.org

4. 3. Contest
Stage a competition that engages new voices
and raises awareness of local issues and
assets.
www.mnideaopen.org

5. 4. Mobile
Use mobile
technology to
reach people who
are not regular
users of desk top
computers.
www.votolatino.org

6. 5. Data
Make data easy to use so
local residents can better
understand their
communities.
www.piton.org/census2010/

7. 6. Citizen media
Enable local residents to share their stories and
join conversations about their neighborhoods
and communities.
www.therapidian.org
www.akronist.com

8. 7. Storytelling for action
Help citizens tell important stories that motivate
community action
http://floodlightproject.org/

9. 8. Student journalism
Partner with a
university to teach
students to cover
stories that local
media outlets may
no longer cover
because of
cutbacks.
www.thenewsoutlet.org

10. 9. Professional journalism
Support an independent nonprofit news
organization and/or public media to assure a
flow of news in the public interest.
www.inewsnetwork.org/
www.njspotlight.com

11. What’s your idea?
If your community or place-based foundation is
considering a local news or information
project, we’d like to hear about it. Also, Knight
Circuit Riders may be able to help you sharpen
your idea and work through your plan.
kcic@knightfoundation.org
www.knightfoundation.org