Dallas Free Press is new publisher of the year
Newsletter
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We do this work because we believe in it. It’s thrilling to know that our industry’s experts recognize its value, too.
This past week, Dallas Free Press was named the New Publisher of the Year by the Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, which represents 300+ news organizations across the U.S. and Canada.
“I think Dallas Free Press is such a stellar example of how many other local journalism entrepreneurs throughout the country could (and should) start small, while maximizing impact and being truly rooted in community and public service,” the judges said of our newsroom. “I especially commend their sharp focus on certain neighborhoods and starting from a place of community listening, meeting real information needs, and centering equity.”
We also tied on an award for Best Coronavirus Coverage (solopreneur category).
“This news site does it all,” the judges said, “deep stories on how COVID impacts families and what is driving the community’s vaccine hesitancy, along with rich data and strong engagement with the community via Subtext. It all adds up to impact.”
Our text messaging service also was recognized by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), which represents 350 newsrooms across the nation, both large and small. INN gave us the Game-Changer Award for our “smart use of text messaging to grow readership and serve a community.”
We text with neighbors in South Dallas and West Dallas (in English and Spanish) on a weekly basis, sharing news, information and resources.
“Residents’ answers to text questions often shapes their coverage,” the judges said, “and the team says they use texting as a ‘barometer to gauge what resonates with our communities, and what doesn’t.’ “
We’re grateful to our South Dallas and West Dallas neighbors for their partnership in this work over the past year. Your input, feedback and trust is what makes our work possible. We can’t do it alone.
Likewise, we can’t do this work without our amazing media partners. Our partnership with the Dallas Weekly was recognized by LION with a nomination for Collaboration of the Year. And the night was made so much more meaningful because the Weekly joined us to celebrate! (You can watch the video here.)
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our newsroom this past year. Whether you’ve given time and talent, input and feedback, or donations and support, YOU are what makes our work so strong and impactful.
If you have the means to give, please consider giving to nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism.
Thank you,
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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
