Informed & Engaged

Informed & Engaged Ep. 24: Local journalism in local hands

In a first-of-its-kind deal, a local nonprofit collaborated with partners to purchase 24 community newspapers and websites. They valued local ownership — understanding that news and journalism that kept local residents informed was critical to the health of local communities […]

Ep. 23: What can local news learn from independent journalists on emerging digital platforms?

Over the last decade, technology has simultaneously brought turmoil and promise to the field of journalism. With local news facing an uncertain future, emerging technology platforms show paths of sustainability for some independent journalists[…]

Ep. 22: Thriving or surviving: how local journalism is holding up in 2021

Businesses across the world are changing their models because of the pandemic. How are local for-profit newsrooms shifting with the times? On Episode 21 of “Informed and Engaged,” Knight Foundation’s Paul Cheung will speak with Jim VandeHei[…]

Ep. 21: Journalism and cultural literacy: addressing racial blind spots in news

Following the Atlanta shootings, the mainstream media needed deep guidance from experts like the Asian American Journalists Association on covering the Asian and Asian American community in precise, fair and accurate ways. Many feel that this reflected a general pattern of the mainstream media’s lack of capacity when dealing with communities of color[…]

Rebuilding trust in America: the challenge for journalists

On March 16, the Knight Foundation and the Carnegie-Knight Deans gather industry leaders to discuss the growing debate over the traditional journalistic value of objectivity. Moderator Nancy Gibbs, Director of the Shorenstein[…]

Ep. 20: Veterans in journalism: the unique value and challenges of military vets in the newsroom

The media often covers wars, foreign policy and military issues — but these stories aren’t often told by reporters who have also served in the military. How do we encourage more vets to bring their valuable insight to jobs in media, and make newsrooms more aware of the barriers veterans face […]

Ep. 19: Reimagining local journalism: Bright spots to watch in 2021

What are the bright spots in local news for 2021? Meet inspiring local journalism leaders who are reinventing how to deliver original, equitable, and inclusive reporting to communities across the country. […]

Ep. 18: What to expect after the unexpected: 2021 predictions

With each new year comes a sweeping new sentiment of hope. But will 2021 look any different from 2020? On Episode 18 of “Informed and Engaged”, the Knight Foundation partners with the Nieman Journalism Lab and the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University to share 2021 predictions for journalism and informed communities. How do some of the smartest […]

Ep. 17: How are our information ecosystems holding up? A post-election check-in

Only 36 hours after voting ends, we’ll check in on the resilience of news organizations and social media platforms to meet the moment amidst an unprecedented election. On episode 17 […]

Ep. 16: Barriers to the ballot box

As the American voting system changes, the promise of fair and free elections is increasingly under threat — especially for America’s communities of color. On Episode 16 of “Informed & Engaged,” we’ll speak with Susan Smith […]

Ep. 15: Rebuilding local news

The pandemic has accelerated the decline of local news and created an imminent information crisis, leaving 36,000 newsroom workers laid off, furloughed or facing significant pay cuts. What role should the federal government play in rebuilding the industry? On Episode 15 of […]

Ep. 14: On The Front Lines: The 2020 Campaign Reporters

Just over five weeks until election day, how are journalists covering an unprecedented election season and getting accurate voter perspectives? Between a pandemic, historic levels of mail-in and absentee voting, questions about accurate state polling and limited candidate events […]

Ep. 13: Hope and optimism for the next gen. journalists

The next generation of journalists is facing major challenges in the years ahead — from organized disinformation campaigns to the public’s declining trust in the media. But there have never been more opportunities, tools or platforms to […]

Ep. 12: Black voices: The stories that need to be told

In the wake of George Floyd’s killing and subsequent protests, journalists are having their own reckoning on how their newsrooms have upheld systemic racism. Some major outlets have announced new teams devoted to covering race and systemic oppression. But what does research show about the experiences […]

Ep. 11: How the media can help during a chaotic election

For the media, this is the most challenging election in modern American history. Journalists are preparing to cover a presidential race that’s impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, mail-in voting concerns, misinformation on social media — and election night could turn into weeks over disputed results. On Episode 11 […]

Ep. 10: Your 2020 Election Plan is Toast

Election night is often a late one in U.S. newsrooms. Journalists spend hours double and triple checking data and results, crafting headlines and producing live reports from candidates campaign headquarters. But the pandemic of 2020 has changed and possibilities. What was once “election night” could end up […]

Ep. 9: Investing in journalism entrepreneurship

This year, newsrooms are facing increased pressures to ramp up their businesses, address organizational inequities, and close a growing digital divide. . What does this mean for people supporting journalism entrepreneurship? How can funders and philanthropists strategically invest to disrupt the current state of the industry? On Episode 9 […]

Ep. 8: Women of color in the White House press corps

For years, the White House press corps has been the public’s way to help hold our powerful officials accountable, up to and including the President — and as our country changes, it’s important that the […]

Ep. 7: The weight of inequity in newsrooms

This episode of Informed & Engaged features a conversation with Michelle Ye He Lee, President of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), and the co-founder of the Journalists of Color Slack channel, Aaron Williams and what BIPOC colleagues are saying about the unprecedented moment […]

Ep. 6: Racism’s reach in communities

On Episode 6 of Informed & Engaged, a weekly Knight Journalism show, leaders of two of the largest organizations for journalists of color will join us to discuss the heightened race awareness we’re seeing amid COVID-19 and our country’s current moment of racial reckoning. We’ll hear from Hugo Balta, President […]

Ep 5: Collaborative journalism that serves

On Episode 5 of Informed & Engaged, we’re diving into the types of collaboration — from sourcing to storytelling — that are driving impact in Philadelphia. We’ll hear from Roxann Stafford, managing director of the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, who […]

Ep. 4: A changing media landscape

On Episode 4 of Informed & Engaged, we’ll have a conversation with three industry innovators about the transition and motivation in making a move to leadership roles at nonprofit news organizations from commercial organizations. […]

Ep. 3: Racism in immigrant communities

The rising Black Lives Matter movement is inspiring important conversations around racism in immigrant communities — and shaping how journalists report on race issues, police brutality and other important topics. On Episode 3 of Informed & Engaged, four journalists, Tanzina Vega, Karen Attiah, Karen Attiah and Fabiola Santiago […]

Ep. 2: Shifting Tech Trends in the Age of COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic and rising Black Lives Matter protest movement have both increased opportunities for news organizations to embrace emerging technologies. Join us in a conversation with Amy Webb, one of America’s leading futurists, and Sam Guzik, product director at Hearst Newspapers, […]

Ep. 1: A moment of reckoning

A Moment of Reckoning: How Journalism Can Begin to Dismantle Its Systems of Racism (Monday, June 15, 2020) The inaugural episode of Informed & Engaged, a new weekly Knight show on the ideas and solutions impacting the media landscape, kicked off with a conversation that meets the moment but remains long overdue. […]

Knight Foundation

Informed & Engaged

More episodes coming soon

Previous episodes