Welcome to the Listening Post Collective
About Us
The Listening Post Collective, a project of Internews, brings global expertise and strategies to meet community information needs in the U.S. Our Collective comprises former journalists, business leaders, humanitarian activists, grassroots organizers, and public policy analysts, all dedicated to empowering communities through reliable and impactful information.
Our News Information Crisis
- The historic and expanding news deserts diminish civic engagement and challenges information integrity.
- Even in areas with strong traditional news ecosystems, which are not considered ‘news deserts,’ entire communities still lack equitable access to information.
- Legacy journalism often misrepresents or completely ignores the stories of BIPOC and immigrant communities.
- Equity-minded media leaders need stronger support, mentorship, and platforms to amplify their voices and ensure diverse perspectives are valued in the media landscape.
This is why our Collective includes financial backing, training opportunities, and networks that foster collaboration and innovation.
What We Do
We partner with individuals and organizations to create local news solutions that empower communities. Building equity in media requires trust, collaboration, and time. Through listening, networking, and understanding information needs, we develop community-driven solutions that foster impactful, sustainable civic media projects.
Our Vision
At the Listening Post Collective, we envision a world where everyone lives not in a news desert but in an information garden, where everyone has access to high-quality, culturally-relevant, civic information in accessible languages and on issues that impact them.
We see a future where civic power is strengthened by equitable, civic media.
We’re uniquely situated to take on this work.
We draw on 40 years of global experience building healthy media and information environments, especially in vulnerable communities.
Our Impact
Information Ecosystem Assessments
Total $ Microgrants Distributed since 2017
Playbook Collective Members
Testimonials
Listen to your community before you worry about tax status
Picture of LPC Micro-grantees Santa Cruz Local accepting their LION Award
The future of news is independently-owned journalism startups who identify as community-centered businesses. Not as catchy a headline as the more commonly referenced “the future of news is nonprofit.” But the nuance matters.
The Challenge of Creating Equitable Local News
Picture of Andrea Wenzell with her book “Anti-Racist Journalism: The Challenge of Creating Equitable Local News”
The Listening Post Collective recently caught up with Andrea Wenzel, the author of the new book, Antiracist Journalism: The Challenge of Creating Equitable Local News. Wenzel explores how to identify and deal with structural racism in US newsrooms.
“Divest from the ‘news desert’ framework — grow information gardens”
Picture of Anthony Victoria at Media Literacy Workshop in Inland Empire
How to divest from the “news desert” framework by listening to and supporting locally-grown civic media makers and projects to help them thrive long-term.
2023 Reflections from the Collective
Picture of Sergio Cortes from LPC Partnership Program and outlet uSpark
It wouldn’t be the end of year without sharing some highlights and headlines. In this newsletter we’ve got some end of year reflections from places as diverse as Kyiv and Trenton, New Jersey. We asked them to share something meaningful from their civic media work this year.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Listening Post Collective Partners meet with LPC Senior Business Strategist Silvia Rivera at a conference in Austin, Tx
This month we say goodbye to an amazing colleague and friend, Silvia Rivera, who has transformed our work over the past 3+ years. We’re so luck to have worked with such a thoughtful, mission driven, and incredibly fun person. Here are Silvia’s parting words of wisdom on the LPC stage
Thank You to Our Funders and Collaborators
