Dallas’ digital divide and the solutions taking shape
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Reporting toward solutions to our city’s systemic inequities is baked into Dallas Free Press’ mission.
When COVID-19 exposed the digital divide in Dallas, we began looking into ways that leaders at City Hall, Dallas ISD and other local advocacy groups were working to bridge that divide. We started with the challenges and then began examining potential solutions. We partnered with KERA to amplify the stories and translated them for our Spanish-speaking neighbors.
Then the Solutions Journalism Network gave us a grant to keep following the story to find out whether and how internet initiatives are working for people who most need them.
- Which homes will receive two years of free wired internet from the state and the school district?
- How many families who live within a 2-mile radius of Pinkston, Lincoln and other high schools will benefit from towers transmitting wireless internet from the schools to their houses?
- And how are such efforts working in San Antonio, which set the stage for these innovations?
We’re listening to community members to find out what they need, and whether those needs are being met. We’re also providing coverage that walks people through the various options available to them — not just with our website stories but also with social media stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where we’ve quickly built a strong following.
Our goal is to reach people wherever and however they get their news and information. That’s one way we’re trying to help ensure that solutions impact the people for whom they’re intended.
(We’re still reporting on Dallas’ digital divide, so please let us know about any internet challenges or solutions we should look into.)
Deep challenges and hopeful solutions are everywhere we look in this city. The more resources Dallas Free Press has, the more reporting we can dig into.
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Keri Mitchell has spent 20+ years as a community journalist, including 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines. She launched Dallas Free Press in early 2020 with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable.
Mitchell says she is energized by “knowing our work is making an impact — listening to people, telling their stories with strong narratives paired with compelling data that leads to change. I also love spending time in our neighborhoods and with our neighbors, learning from them and working to determine how journalism can be part of the solution to their challenges.”
Mitchell is proud to be the winner of multiple awards during her journalism career including: Finalist in Magazine Feature Reporting (2018) and Finalist in Magazine Investigative Reporting (2017) from Hugh Aynesworth Excellence in Journalism, Best Feature Story (2011) from Texas Community Newspaper Association and Best Magazine Feature (2011) from Dallas Bar Association Philbin Awards.
Areas of Expertise:
local government, education, civic issues, investigative and enterprise reporting
Location Expertise:
Dallas, Texas
Official Title:
Founder + executive director
Email Address:
keri@dallasfreepress.com
