University of Evansville ChangeLab Awarded $10,000 to Improve Local News

Evansville, Ind. (01/23/2024) — The University of Evansville's Center for Innovation & Change is excited to announce that Evansville NewsLab, a UE ChangeLab, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Listening Post Collective, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovative community-driven journalism projects.

The grant will support the ChangeLab in expanding its efforts to foster community engagement and promote civic journalism in the Evansville area. The funds will be used to enhance the organization's community outreach initiatives in Spring 2024 as they conduct community-wide research through surveys and focus groups to help develop a civic journalism hub in Evansville.

"We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Listening Post Collective," said Andrew Carter, Associate Director of UE's Center for Innovation & Change and coach for the NewsLab course. "We are committed to adding a civic journalism component to local news that promotes a more vibrant media landscape with better informed and engaged citizens." Evansville NewsLab will be making more announcements about the initiative as it rolls out in 2024.

The Listening Post Collective focuses on supporting projects that prioritize community voices, encourage civic participation, and foster inclusive and equitable journalism practices. The grant reflects the organization's recognition of the NewsLab's dedication to amplifying diverse perspectives and building bridges between local residents, local government, and the media.

"We are excited to partner with Evansville NewsLab ChangeLab and support their goals of making local journalism more accessible and representative," said Grace Northern, Program Officer at the Listening Post Collective. "Their commitment to empowering citizens through civic information aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their projects on the Evansville community."

Evansville NewsLab is proud to partner with Our Times, Evansville's Black-owned newspaper, to establish a community-driven civic journalism model in Evansville and encourages residents of Evansville and the surrounding areas to get involved in shaping the narrative of their community. The grant will facilitate focus groups, listening sessions, and survey distribution to empower individuals to tell their own stories and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive local media landscape.

About Evansville NewsLab ChangeLab

ChangeLabs are academic courses offered at the University of Evansville for students to earn academic credit while working on projects that make an impact in the community. Evansville NewsLab is a community-driven journalism initiative dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between media outlets and the local community. Through innovative projects and collaborative efforts, the lab seeks to amplify diverse voices and empower citizens to actively participate in shaping the narrative of Evansville. Students in this the NewsLab are mentored by Steve Burger, Andrew Carter, Erin Hempfling, and Guy Sides.

About Listening Post Collective

Listening Post Collective is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes community-driven journalism projects. By providing grants, resources, and guidance through their Civic Media Playbook, the organization aims to empower communities to create their own narratives, fostering a more inclusive and participatory media landscape.