Dallas Free Press honored for innovative approach to community journalism

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“Isn’t the news industry dying?”

We’ve heard some semblance of this question often when asking people to invest in Dallas Free Press’ mission. It’s a valid question, especially considering the past couple of decades of newspaper closures, layoffs and record-low trust in media. (Here’s one of our favorite overviews of why this happened, if you want a deep dive.)

Despite all of this, we’re incredibly hopeful about the future of journalism because we believe journalism needs to change — both its business model and its commitment to public service. 

The two national organizations where we find our home, the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) and the Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, this year named Dallas Free Press an industry “Game Changer” and the “New Publisher of the Year,” respectively. We were thrilled by the recognition, especially because the awards honored us for work that hasn’t traditionally been defined as “journalism.”

The Game Changer award was for the weekly texts we send to South Dallas and West Dallas readers, which INN called “a smart use of text messaging to grow readership and serve a community.” And when naming us New Publisher of the Year, LION praised us for “start[ing] small while maximizing impact … being truly rooted in community and public service … starting from a place of community listening, meeting real information needs, and centering equity.”

We don’t have a publication to fill, weekly website click quotas to meet, or anyone to answer to except for our South Dallas and West Dallas readers. Our financial support comes from foundations and generous individuals (like you!) who believe in our work.

When we’re choosing which topics to pursue and which stories to cover, we ask ourselves two primary questions:

We do publish a number of stories because we believe that narratives are a powerful way to amplify voices and paint accurate pictures of our communities, from neighbors’ perspectives. But stories aren’t always the best way to share news, information and resources with our neighbors.

Sometimes it’s a text or social media post that sums up a decision at a City Council meeting. Other times it’s an Instagram Story that walks people through how to have free wired internet access installed at home, or how to obtain a discount DART card.

It might be a map that shows neighbors where to pick up groceries and meals, a timeline of a complicated zoning case, or a data visualization of rising property values. 

Whatever it is, we’re committed to listening to our neighbors to understand what they need and want from us, and responding with equitable, community-centered journalism — no matter what that looks like.

Thank you for your support of equitable, community-centered journalism,

Executive director, Dallas Free Press