Creativity is a beautiful thing, especially when it is created collaboratively and for a good cause. Aware of my passion for live music, one of my fellow classmates at an online entrepreneurial journalism course I took last week at the Poynter Institute connected me to one of the co-founders of New Roots News Media. New Roots News Media, co-founded by Lily Reisman, Nick Hincklley, and Matt Parke, is a non-profit, independent news organization seeking to “better serve the residents and communities of Saint Petersburg, FL by encouraging every citizen to use their voice, and by exercising our right to a free press, and using that right as a vehicle for democracy.”
The members of New Roots want to foster open communication among all members of the community. The organization was established to put localism back in news delivery. New Roots, set to go live early April, will cover everything from Arts & Culture, to Health & Wellness, Politics, Community News, Events, and beyond. The format of the site will include video, photographs, and print articles provided by the editors and contributors, as well as user-generated content. In essence, the site will act as a forum for community news.
I attended my first contributors meeting last night, and was extremely impressed with the energy and excitement among the group. These are passionate people with a deep connection to their town, who want to make a difference by making their voice and the voices of their neighbors heard. I am ecstatic about this project, and hope that residents as well as local business leaders become just as excited and choose to be involved. If you are interested in contributing, check out the New Roots Facebook page here.
Tags: community, journalists, live music, localism, news, students, USF
