A veteran journalist and editor for major U.K. and U.S. publications, Tracey is the co-founder and chief content officer of Cityside, a nonprofit news organization. What began as a blog born of frustration that her adopted home of Berkeley had no reliable local news source is now a leading media platform with 30 employees, three local newsrooms, and three influential free publications: Berkeleyside, The Oaklandside, and Richmondside.
In Episode 5 of NewsBreak’s Behind the Byline podcast:
- Why nonprofit journalism is here to stay – and how redefining the relationship between the newsroom and the community it serves changes everything from how journalism is funded to what gets covered and who gets to read it
- How Cityside stays rooted in community – by continuously asking people what information they need, hiring local reporters, hosting local events, connecting via social media, and following up on reader tips and ideas
- What service-oriented journalism does – going beyond traditional investigative and accountability reporting to provide free community obituaries and guides to navigating local government services, affordable housing, and more
When Contra Costa County’s teachers went on strike last year, thousands of parents woke up each day not knowing if their children’s school was closed or what childcare options were available. Richmondside launched a service overnight, sharing direct updates. Tracey heard the same thing over and over: “Without these texts I wouldn’t have known what to do.” It wasn’t a scoop or an investigation; it was a newsroom that understood its community.
If you’re interested in the new media landscape or what it takes to build a platform that connects with audiences over time, listen to Behind the Byline.
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