The 2024 Local Media Association Digital Innovation Awards honored seven news organizations for standout work in the Most Innovative Content Initiative category. These projects pushed the boundaries of local journalism, blending storytelling, technology, and community engagement in powerful ways. Here’s a closer look at each winner:
First place (Less than 250,001 monthly unique visitors): Connecticut Public unearths hidden history with “Unforgotten”
Connecticut Public’s multimedia series, “Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery,” brought long-overlooked stories of Northern slavery to light through digital storytelling, television specials, podcasts, videos, and live community events. The series even uncovered what may be the first Black published composer in U.S. history, Sawney Freeman, and featured modern performances of his rediscovered music.
Judges praised the initiative: “Connecticut Public’s ‘Unforgotten’ represents groundbreaking and impactful content strategy. This multiplatform project demonstrates an exceptional commitment to reaching diverse audiences and fostering meaningful engagement with a vital historical narrative. Seamlessly integrating audio, video, digital, and in-person experiences such as a community event, ‘Unforgotten’ also pursued a distribution strategy across linear radio and television, podcasts, streaming platforms, a dedicated website, a mobile app, and social media.”
First place (More than 250,001 monthly unique visitors): Whittier Informed transforms local news on Instagram
Whittier Informed launched on Instagram to fill a void in local coverage of Whittier, California, focusing on city council decisions and community updates. Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI to process large agenda packets, this one-person newsroom became the city’s most-followed news source, breaking major stories like a hospital ransomware attack.
Judges highlighted: “Whittier Informed transformed local news through use of Instagram as its primary platform and AI as a valuable tool, exemplifying the potential of news innovation… Its vertical videos are exceptionally informative… Whittier Informed’s innovative techniques point to the future of news. If deployed across larger newsrooms, these can revolutionize and revitalize journalism regardless of the size of the newsroom.”
Honorable mention (Less than 250,000 monthly unique visitors): PublicSource exposes environmental injustice
Pittsburgh’s PublicSource earned honors for “Hollowed Out,” a deep investigation into fracking’s environmental and health impacts in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Through meticulous records requests and immersive reporting, the series brought personal stories and scientific data together, resulting in class-action lawsuits and widespread republication.
Judges wrote: “PublicSource’s innovative reporting… followed a deeply immersive approach to investigative journalism… By combining intimate community storytelling with rigorous investigative techniques, the story brought to light the environmental and health consequences of the company’s operations. That combination… amounted to an innovative storytelling structure augmented by Glabicki’s photojournalism that added a visual layer of emotional resonance.”
Second place (Less than 250,000 monthly unique visitors): Richmond Times-Dispatch connects with Mobile Newsroom
The Richmond Times-Dispatch launched its Mobile Newsroom to embed journalists in underserved neighborhoods, hosting pop-up newsrooms at libraries, schools, and community centers. This grassroots effort resulted in 35 original stories and built lasting relationships with new sources.
The judges said: “The Richmond Times-Dispatch pursued an innovative approach to newsgathering through the launch of its Mobile Newsroom initiative… That enabled direct dialogue and the discovery of previously untold stories… The project’s commitment to listening to feedback, responding to suggestions, and giving a voice to the voiceless has demonstrably strengthened the Richmond Times-Dispatch as a vital community hub.”
Second place (More than 250,001 monthly unique visitors): The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com nails Taylor Swift coverage
The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com turned Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour into a content machine, generating 1.1 million pageviews, 2.5 million video views, and 200 new subscriptions through a video-first strategy and a dedicated Taylor Swift section on its site.
Judges noted: “The New Orleans Times-Picayune innovative and highly successful strategy… demonstrated a deep understanding of audience engagement… The use of AI tools, specifically Canva’s AI features for video editing and captioning, and Marfeel’s AI tool for headline and SEO optimization, reflected a forward-thinking integration of technology to enhance content creation and distribution.”
Third place (Less than 250,000 monthly unique visitors): VNN Oklahoma brings Indigenous history to light
VNN Oklahoma fundraised nearly $19,000 to license the Indian Rights Association collection, providing access to vital Indigenous historical documents. This archive fueled new investigative reporting and the MMIWG2T Historical Reporting Project, helping secure $104,000 in grants and driving meaningful community impact.
Judges said: “VNN Oklahoma’s innovative approach… demonstrates a powerful commitment to uncovering and disseminating vital Indigenous history… The measurable impact underscores the project’s innovative approach… VNN Oklahoma’s work serves as a model for leveraging historical archives to drive impactful reporting and foster positive change within Indigenous communities.”
Third place (More than 250,001 monthly unique visitors): KUAM Digital champions sustainability with sponsored series
KUAM Digital’s “Sustainability Street” campaign celebrated Earth Month by promoting eco-friendly businesses and practices through social storytelling and videos, supported by Nissan Leaf sponsorship. The initiative boosted KUAM’s social media engagement and fostered local environmental awareness.
The judges remarked: “KUAM Digital’s ‘Sustainability Street’… demonstrated a creative approach to both environmental awareness and sponsored content by Nissan Leaf… The initiative is a high-quality example of an innovative approach to sponsored content for community good.”
These projects showcase how local media outlets are embracing innovation to deepen community impact, enhance storytelling, and build sustainable models for the future.