Dear Reader,
This year has required all of us to adjust course in so many ways. I wanted to give you a peek into what that has looked like for me recently at PublicSource, and why a nimble, mission-driven news organization is so critical during uncertain times.
I recently wrote a story calling into question some of the underlying assumptions of the national media’s stories about Southwestern Pennsylvania. The national stories tended to feature the same people over and over, and I wanted our readers to have some critical perspective on the narratives of our region. I also wanted to help national reporters, who parachute in, to do a little bit better. So, the day after our article got published, it was rewarding to see The Atlantic link to it in a story about the politics of our region.
A few weeks earlier, we launched a reader-focused Facebook group to create a community for accurate information about voting. We produced a video to help readers understand how to vote by mail. One voter came to the group with a ballot problem, and several members chimed in to help make sure his vote was counted.
At the same time, I was building a database of greenhouse gas emissions of Pittsburgh’s buildings. I spent several weeks talking to experts, cleaning the data, creating graphics and trying to present it in a way that made the most sense. I also hunkered down in my closet with a blanket over my head to record a radio version of the story for our partners at The Allegheny Front and WESA.
But I needed more time to get the data into shape. If we were going to create a resource for people to draw upon for years to come, we needed to make sure it was as accurate as possible. Nonprofits like us are uniquely positioned to take on these stories. With the help of four interns, we were able to look up hundreds of property owners and find out which owners weren’t complying with the city’s climate change ordinance. And with the help of a great creative director, we were able to build a searchable map and easily digestible graphics.
That is what you get with a nonprofit newsroom. The goal isn’t to create intellectual property to make money — it’s to make our community better. My editors tell me to spend my time on the stories that matter most, given our limited resources. And then give me the time — and flexibility—to serve you.
Will you consider making a gift to support this coverage? Until Dec. 31, gifts are matched and new recurring gifts are matched x12, so your generosity has even more of an impact.
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