What happens when journalists stop competing and start collaborating?
In the latest episode of Keep It Local, a podcast from Local Media Association, host Ryan Welton talks with Rob Collins, executive director of Oklahoma Media Center, about the power of collaboration in sustaining local journalism.
Founded in 2020, Oklahoma Media Center (OMC) has brought together more than 30 news organizations across the state—including metro dailies, nonprofit newsrooms, broadcasters, ethnic media and student publications—under a single mission: to work together, share resources and strengthen local news for all Oklahomans.
Collins explains that the collaborative was launched at a time of crisis for local journalism, when shrinking newsrooms, dwindling revenues and growing news deserts left many communities without access to reliable information.
“In journalism school, we were all taught to beat and compete and scoop each other,” Collins says. “But with a collaborative, you have to band together to make each other stronger.”
In just five years, OMC has distributed nearly $300,000 in funding to participating newsrooms, supporting collaborative reporting projects, training initiatives, research and tools to help build trust with audiences. From coverage of tribal sovereignty to mental health reporting in underserved communities, OMC’s work has helped Oklahoma’s newsrooms reach deeper and work smarter.
One of its most creative initiatives was a Schoolhouse Rock-style music video called “Free Press Isn’t Free,” designed to educate audiences about the role of journalism in democracy and the importance of supporting local news. The song, written by Oklahoma musician and songwriter Mike Hosty, was shared across newsrooms as a fun, engaging tool to connect with audiences.
Looking ahead, Collins says OMC is focused on solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges: the pipeline problem. With fewer young journalists entering the profession and burnout driving veterans away, OMC is developing an Oklahoma journalism masterclass aimed at recruiting, training and retaining the next generation of reporters—starting in high schools and vocational schools and extending through internships and newsroom partnerships.
“We’re excited to build a bridge for the future of journalism,” Collins says. “We have to meet audiences where they are, and we have to support the people doing the work.”
Listen to the full episode of Keep It Local to hear more about how collaboration is making a difference in Oklahoma, and what other states can learn from this approach.
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Editor’s note: Artificial Intelligence was used to transcribe and create an initial summary of this article, which was then edited by LMA staff.