A Framework for Assessing Your Local News and Information Ecosystem
Over the past year, with the support of Democracy Fund, the Google News Initiative, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, we at the Impact Architects have been working on a project to construct a framework for evaluating the health of local news and information ecosystems across the United States and testing that framework in nine communities. Our goal for this project is that anyone, anywhere can apply the framework to assess the health of their local news and information ecosystem, identify opportunities to strengthen the ecosystem, and measure progress over time.
After conducting an exhaustive literature review and primary research, we’re excited to share this framework that includes 35 indicators across three categories: community; information providers; and the relationship between the two. This is not a prescriptive framework, but rather, a starting point from which to better understand the nuances, strengths, and opportunities for growth in your own news and information ecosystem.
This framework is designed to be accessible and generalizable, using publicly available and easily digestible data and information. The Playbook walks you through the process of applying the framework in your own community, and there is a template (in Google Sheets) where you can track your change over time.
In the full research report, we apply the framework in nine local news and information ecosystems in the United States; Boulder County, Colorado; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan; Macon-Bibb County, Georgia; New Mexico; Oakland, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Youngstown, Ohio. The Playbook highlights many of the case studies from the report, underlining different ways to invest in strengthening the news and information ecosystem in your community.
Over the next few weeks we’ll be outlining elements of the Healthy News & Information Ecosystem Report and the Playbook, as well as some interesting or challenging parts of our process that were not included in the final report.
We look forward to sharing our journey and findings with you, and we hope that you will tell us how you use the tools yourself!
