Carving out new lanes for early-stage news startups with Tiny News Collective’s Amy Kovac-Ashley

Amy Kovac-Ashley, the executive director of Tiny News Collective shares insights on how Tiny News Collective supports early-stage news founders, particularly those from traditionally excluded communities, by providing resources, tools, and a supportive community.    The discussion covers the importance of diverse voices in local journalism, the challenges faced by local news startups, and the innovative ways they can engage with their audiences. Amy emphasizes the significance of understanding community needs and tailoring editorial and business strategies accordingly.   Key takeaways include the potential for local news to act as a community connector, the value of arts and culture coverage, and the need for sustainable support systems for small news organizations. Amy also highlights successful case studies, such as Future Tides and The Shout, and explores the role of new revenue opportunities in sustaining local journalism.   Episode chapters: (02:36) - The mission of Tiny News Collective (05:24) - Changing the face of local news (07:43) - Arts and culture coverage as community connector (16:43) - Building support systems for early-stage news founders (27:03) - Tailoring support to individual needs (31:39) - The challenges of early-stage founders (43:19) - Scaling support (45:46) - Criteria for joining Tiny News Collective (48:15) - Rapid-fire questions   Links: Amy Kovac-Ashley: Linkedln, Twitter/X  The Tiny News Collective Mentioned  Cara Kuhlman and Future Tides Mazin Sidahmed and Documented Jiquanda Johnson and Flint Beat Nancy Flores and Austin Vida The Shout Project Optimist Duc Luu and Knight Foundation Aaron Pilofar Heather Bryant Tyler Fisher Claudia Amaro and Planeta Venus Jeff Jarvis Jay Rosen Wichita Foundation LION Publishers INN (Investigative News Network) New Mexico Local News Fund Documenters Journalism and Design program at The New School Recommendations: Comedy; Mike Birbiglia and Working It Out podcast WTF with  Marc Maron My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A. Trevor Noah stand up City Cast Northern Exposure and Northern Overexposure podcast The Hill Is Home The DC Line Local News Matters: web, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter   For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com. Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Michael Shaprio (TAPinto), Kenny Katzgrau (redbankgreen and Broadstreet), John Garrett (Community Impact), Shannon Kinney (Dream Local Digital), Larry Ryckman (The Colorado Sun),  Frank Mungeam (Local Media Association), Kelly Ann Scott (Alabama Media Group), Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita (URL Media), Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro (National Trust for Local News), Mike Rispoli and Richard Young (via When the People Decide), Sarabeth Berman (American Journalism Project), Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg (Intermountain Jewish News),  Lyndsay C. Green (via The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser (New Mexico Local News Fund), Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt (The Mountain-Ear), Dan Grech (BizHack), Zack Richner (Easy Tax Credits), Tracie Powell (Pivot Fund), Dan Oshinsky (Inbox Collective), Linda Shapley (via What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton (Zette, Column), Charity Huff (January Spring), Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry (Aurora Sentinel), Steve Waldman (Rebuild Local News), Maritza Félix (Conecta Arizona), Michael Bolden (American Press Institute), Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins (CFOIC, Colorado College), Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson (Spaceship Media), Jennifer Brandel (Hearken, Democracy SOS), Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh (Sopris Sun).

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Local News Matters highlights the interesting and innovative work of local newsrooms – as well as the crucial questions they face – as they endeavor to evolve their organizations to produce more meaningful journalism, to better serve their communities and to enhance their organization’s financial sustainability for long-term results. Hosted by Tim Regan-Porter, CEO of the Colorado Press Association, Local News Matters features guests from newsrooms and support organizations across the U.S. in extended conversations covering a wide range of topics. Tim talks to reporters, editors, publishers, sales leaders, philanthropists and more – anyone doing new or exemplary work or proffering thought-provoking insights is fair game. Whether you’re a newsroom leader, a sales executive or just a citizen who cares deeply about informed communities, you’ll find something here worth your time. Visit https://localnewsmatterspodcast.com/ for show notes, transcripts, mailing list and more.