At Local Media Association, we believe collaboration is key to the future of local journalism which is why industry collaboration is one of our four strategic pillars. Our initiatives unite media organizations, technology partners, and industry leaders to address critical challenges, drive innovation, and create sustainable business models. Regional collaboratives like Oklahoma Media Center and Solving Sacramento strengthen local reporting by pooling resources and expertise, while topic-based collaboratives like Word In Black and News is Out amplify diverse voices and coverage that matter most to their communities.
By fostering shared learning, joint revenue strategies, and philanthropic partnerships, LMA accelerates industry-wide transformation. Whether through newsroom innovation, audience development, or business model experimentation, our work ensures local media organizations are equipped to thrive in an evolving digital landscape. Through strategic partnerships and pilot programs, we help scale successful initiatives, empowering local media to better serve and inform their communities.
Here are recent articles about our collaboratives and work in the industry to support news media collaboration.
Four things local publications can do right now to grow audience and engagement
The challenge is real: how do you grow your audience without breaking the budget — and how do you actually see a return? Long story short, publications need to commit to change. Not a rebrand. Not a campaign. A fundamental shift in how you engage with your community — physically, digitally and at the level…
Q&A with David Stuckey, Audience Growth Manager
David Stuckey is the Audience Growth Manager for Word In Black publishers. David is a journalist and photographer with over 20 years of experience telling stories to capture the eye of an audience. He has worked as a digital news editor at USA TODAY and as a senior producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting, where his…
LMA/LMF 2025 Impact Report
We’re proud to share inspiring stories of news media organizations that have benefited from our programs Dear Friends of LMA and LMF, Many great things happened in LMA/LMF programs in 2025, and this report tells those stories of successes for local media of all kinds and sizes. We would seem naive, however, if we did not acknowledge…
Q&A with Linda Bowers, director of business development and partnerships for Solving Sacramento
Linda Bowers is the director of business development and partnerships for Solving Sacramento. She began her career in media sales, representing both local and national publications, and later expanded into training, marketing strategy and donor relations. She has a strong track record of working with organizations that champion diversity and inclusion as core values, helping…
Inside the collaboratives: November 2025
Each month, Local Media Association will feature some of the work of its collaboratives: Word In Black, News Is Out, Latido Beat, Branded Content Project, Oklahoma Media Center, and Solving Sacramento. Word In Black ‘Black America’s Digital Daily’ We’re Black America’s Digital Daily — a national newsroom and research lab rooted in the Black Press…
Q&A with Dr. Christa Mahlobo, research and insights director for Word In Black
Dr. Christa Mahlobo is a research scientist with over 8 years of experience exploring the psychological needs and behaviors of Black Americans using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Her applied research experience has spanned across multiple fields, including travel and tourism, the arts and culture, and mindfulness and wellbeing. She completed her PhD at The Pennsylvania State University…
Oklahoma Media Center innovates higher ed partnerships to transform local news across state
Oklahoma Media Center, a nonprofit created to support homegrown local news, is expanding its academic collaboration to cultivate a new generation of journalists. As part of its strategic plan, OMC began the Higher Ed Roundtable to bridge the gap between journalism education and the real-world information needs of local communities. The mission is to ensure…
Mapping queer media: How ‘News Is Out’ is building a living record of LGBTQ+ journalism
Editor’s Note: Wednesday, October 8, is LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day. The publications within the News Is Out collaborative would appreciate your support. Click here to give. The LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project is giving queer journalism something it’s never had before — a living, breathing record of who’s telling the stories and where they’re being told.…
Inside the collaboratives: September 2025
Each month, Local Media Association will feature some of the work of its collaboratives: Word In Black, News Is Out, Latido Beat, Branded Content Project, Oklahoma Media Center, and Solving Sacramento. Word In Black ‘Black America’s Digital Daily’ We’re Black America’s Digital Daily — a national newsroom and research lab rooted in the Black Press…
LatidoBeat launches as national platform to strengthen Latino journalism ecosystem
(September 9, 2025) — Local Media Association (LMA) today announces the launch of LatidoBeat, an exciting national startup built in collaboration with seven of the leading Spanish-language publishers, leveraging their credibility, reach, and deep community roots to create a united platform for Latino voices, following the proven Word In Black playbook. Supported by a $300,000…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.