Don’t worry, this is not an article about former President Donald Trump or his TV show.
Last week, I attended the Knight Media Forum in Miami. It was a conference filled with the who’s who of journalism innovators and disruptors. There were about 650 people there including publishers, universities, foundations that boost local journalism, and those that are working directly with online publications like Bucket List Community Cafe to help us be sustainable. It was informative, inspiring and, truthfully, a bit overwhelming. My biggest takeaway: Don’t under-imagine! I was also encouraged by the marching orders from Maribel Perez Wadsworth, the new president of Knight, who proclaimed that philanthropy must move at the pace of news. But philanthropy can’t do it all, she reminded. Publications need to have multiple revenue streams to be sustainable.
It is hard to hear all the doom and gloom about journalism. Over the past several years, many media outlets have faced mass layoffs, downsizing or have even folded completely. Hedge funds have gutted newspapers across the country while the Internet and social media have radically changed the way the public consumes news. There are big problems. At the Knight Media Forum, innovation was in the air and hundreds of people gathered to work on solutions. There is a pivot from the old ways of doing things. New methods, technologies and collaborations are strengthening journalism so it can better serve communities. There’s a sense of urgency because trustworthy journalism matters to our neighbors, our citizens and our democracy, especially during an election year.
Bucket List Community Cafe is innovating too. We have mentored about 40 students from three universities in journalism and journalism entrepreneurship. Through that, we have recognized a pain point. Universities want their students to be job-ready when they graduate, with the skills required by today’s newsrooms. Some are. Many are not. They need to report, pitch, shoot, edit, know search engine optimization, analytics and social media, and be able to engage with audiences through newsletters, podcasts and events. If they want to manage these businesses, they need to raise money. That’s so much more than was required of me in my first TV job out of college when making coffee for the staff was part of my written job description. In my job as a production assistant at KRON TV in San Francisco, I ripped wires and scripts and was a runner. To top it off there were 250 applicants. Times have changed and those who hire say they are having a difficult time finding qualified talent.
So what’s a solution? An apprenticeship.
Besides serving the Denver area with trustworthy local news, Bucket List Community Cafe offers an apprenticeship that gives students who stay with us beyond their internship a broader experience. This is an immersive, paid, real-world journalism gig and a ramp to other opportunities and full-time jobs. Journalism is much more than holding truth to power and informing the community these days. It’s a mission and a trade that requires transferable skills. Journalism apprenticeships are a path in the U.K. and traditional trade jobs are making a comeback here in the U.S. The combination of off-the-job learning with on-the-job training prepares those who choose to hone their skills and have time to get to know the community they serve. They are also brand ambassadors for community journalism.
The typical internship lasts two to three months, and most students often don’t have the opportunity to meaningfully apply their skills. An apprenticeship provides a longer period for learning, storytelling and more advanced projects to better prepare the next generation of journalists and journalism entrepreneurs to tell the story of their communities. Those who stay with us beyond their internships do deeper dives into areas of interest and have more time to engage with the community they serve. From here, members of our team have taken impressive steps into jobs in broadcast news, production, events, advertising, business and online news.
This is a transformational time and journalism is at a crossroads. Bucket List Community Cafe is providing hyperlocal neighborly news to the Denver area and building community by sharing our stories. We are mentoring the next generation of journalists to tell the stories that matter most to our communities. As we forge ahead, your support is crucial. Whether it’s becoming a partner with a recurring monthly contribution, sharing our articles with your neighbors, or subscribing to our newsletter, please join us on our journey as we innovate local journalism.
