Deep journalism in a time of scarcity

We began investigating collaborative approaches to journalism because we wanted to do better reporting ourselves. We wanted to pursue ambitious stories that went beyond revealing problems and got to systemic issues and potential solutions.

Almost every journalist we spoke to — from freelancers working in alternative media to mainstream media employees — felt similarly. While news media is good at documenting what’s happening in the world, we heard from many people who wanted more opportunities to go deeper with their journalism. 

Everyone seemed to agree that media could be doing a better job at fuelling constructive dialogue, the sort that gives communities the information and context they need to address big challenges. So why aren’t we always able to produce this sort of work? The consensus from those we spoke to: we’re held back by a lack of resources. They also expressed anxiety about the situation getting worse as budgets are slashed and jobs lost.

If scarcity of resources is the crux of the challenge preventing us from producing more solutions-oriented journalism, we need to find more resources. (For the purposes of this conversation, we’re interpreting “resources” in the broadest way, not to just include money but also things like expertise, data, community knowledge and technology tools.)

We think more collaborative approaches to journalism may help. With business models and technology in flux, there is a lot of opportunity to do things differently. The Case for Collaboration is our effort, generously supported by Ashoka Canada, to explore how to convene partnerships to create new opportunities to do deep, constructive journalism. Our primary line of inquiry:

A partnership, at its heart, is a relationship between parties bringing various resources to the table in support of a shared goal. How can we leverage partnerships to achieve more ambitious journalism in the public interest and develop sustainable funding models, while also protecting journalistic integrity?

A tall order, we know. We hope you’ll contribute your insights and experiences as we explore that question. From our initial conversations with journalists and non-journalists, we’ve identified several examples of ambitious projects in Canada and beyond made possible by collaboration that we’ll profile in the final version of this resource. We also narrowed in on four questions:

How can journalists collaborate with sources of research?

Academics and organizations have access to data, information about how issues are unfolding on the ground, and the expertise to improve our analysis. They also have their own set of ethics, interests and barriers. Those we spoke to identified many barriers, including:

1. a lack of trust that journalists will get the story right, sometimes the result of being burned in past;
2. a hesitation to give up control of their message or story; and
3. the tension between fostering dialogue and their organizational interests (such as the need to look good in media for funders).

Question: How can we better collaborate with research sources, including academics, organizations and change makers, while acknowledging their risks and protecting our journalistic integrity?

How can journalists engage communities in a deeper way?

If our goal is to produce journalism that helps communities grapple with social challenges, we better understand how these issues impact normal people on the ground. Innovative media organizations are finding ways to meaningfully engage communities — those people formerly known as the audience — in all stages of reporting. But so many engagement initiatives fizzle. Why? Question: How can we collaborate with communities in a deeper way to in order to include those people most impacted by change in dialogue about issues?

How can we foster healthy funding partnerships?

As the traditional business models of media erode, new revenue sources are developing. Sponsored and custom content is on the rise. More funding is flowing from private foundations to media. New advertising and distribution models are emerging. We need to be mindful of the influence these changes have on our journalism. At the same time, the philanthropy sector needs ways to measure the impact of its investments in media. Question: How can we foster healthy funding partnerships to make public interest journalism sustainable while protecting journalistic integrity?

How can media outlets collaborate with each other?

From ProPublica to Climate Desk, media outlets are collaborating with one another to pool resources and achieve journalism more ambitious than what individual outlets could do alone. This is a promising model in a traditionally competitive media market, with its own set of potential pitfalls. Question: How can media organizations manage their competing interests in order to partner with one another and achieve more ambitious journalism?

What do you think?

The Case for Collaboration is intended to be a conversation starter. Our research is still in process. We have published this early iteration, merely a skeleton of the resource to come, to provoke dialogue in hopes you’ll contribute your thoughts and experiences. Get in touch:  @erinmillar