America Amplified 1.0 Newsletter Archive: March 2020 to March 2021

America Amplified 2.0 Newsletter Archive: October 2021 — present

So long, good luck and we'll leave you with our playbook!

March 3, 2020: It’s hard to believe it's the end for us! Much of our team will wrap up our project by the end of this week. But it’s not over for America Amplified! See our year by the numbers, read a note from our managing director Donna Vestal, and stay tuned for our community engagement playbook!

WABE engages with Republicans in a listening session; St. Louis PR on its role in racism; IRE fellowships

February 17, 2021: In early February, WABE held a virtual engagement event in Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district. St. Louis Public Radio publishes an editor’s note on its role in racism; a transcription app for Apple devices built by journalists for journalists; and fellowships to attend NICAR.

Prioritizing diversity in our talk show; audio diaries from Nebraska; WITF hold officials accountable

February 3, 2021: America Amplified senior producer Andrea Tudhope shares how she used community engagement strategies to produce our fall national talk show. Plus: WITF editors pen an essay on how they’re holding elected officials accountable for spreading misinformation, a tip for finding transcriptions on YouTube, an AP webinar on 2021 vaccination plans and a helpful essay on correctly using POC.

Mountain West publishes series on police violence; WITF surprised by engagement; be careful with labels

January 20, 2021: Trusting News has advice for journalists on being careful with descriptions in stories; Mountain West News Bureau has published a series on police violence informed by listening sessions; New England News Collaborative produces a regional talk show informed by questions from listeners; WITF gathers Erie residents for a conversation about whether unity is possible after the contentious 2020 election. Plus: a Center for Health Journalism webinar with a health reporter on how she stays on top of COVID-19 news.

WABE holds conversations with voters; Instagram Q&A ideas; community engagement as a Venn diagram

January 6, 2021: In December, WABE’s Roxanne Scott and Maria White Tillman partnered with Local Voices Network to hold virtual conversations with three groups of voters in Georgia about why they’re voting in the Senate runoff election on January 5.. Also: How to host an Instagram Q&A; how community engagement fosters trust; and how APM Research Lab’s Color of Coronavirus: 2020 Year in Review gives more context to the 354,000+ who have died from COVID-19.

Ohio Valley Resource launches 'Black Lives in Red States' series; our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ is here

December 16, 2020: Our partner network Ohio Valley Resource is producing stories about Black residents in the Ohio Valley and asking readers/listeners to share their experiences. Also: Our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ is ready for anyone to use; Report for America is seeking journalists for its 2021 fellowships and a Chrome tab function that will help you get organized.

How Google Trends can help; we're collecting vaccine questions; good news from KOSU

December 9, 2020: Google Trends could help you research people’s interest in various topics in your region; America Amplified is collecting COVID-19 vaccine questions for an FAQ; KOSU in Oklahoma shares how their rural engagement stories led to an unexpected benefit: new corporate sponsorship.

A Black media map; how systems thinking can apply to journalism; newsletter workshop Dec. 3

December 2, 2020: The Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY has launched a map of Black media outlets across the country — it’s a great resource for starting new relationships! Also: If you want to cover an entrenched issue in your community, use this systems thinking guide to help you brainstorm ideas; plus, a webinar on boosting newsletters and Spotlight PA’s database of experts of color in Pennsylvania.

Our talk show wraps up; Mountain West holds listening sessions on policing; how to analyze your tweets

November 18, 2020: After an incredible 6 weeks, our last “America Amplified: Election 2020” talk show aired November 14. Here’s a big thank you from our managing director Donna Vestal to everyone who made it happen. Also: How to analyze your tweets; what Mountain West News Bureau learned from its listening sessions on policing; and funding and fellowship opportunities.

Why Illinois Public Media wants to keep texting forever; what we learned from voicemails

November 11, 2020: Illinois Public Media/WILL shares why the GroundSource texting tool has been a successful engagement resource for its daily talk show. Also: We share how we’ve been using voicemails for our talk show and a site developed by a psychologist to help you manage anxiety from your desk.

Yoga for journalists; we audited our talk show; more election engagement stories

November 4, 2020: As the world awaits election results, we found a self-care site create by a journalist, Leslie Rangel. Also: We conducted a diversity source audit of our talk show so far; WABE producer Roxanne Scott shares what she learned from holding listening sessions with suburban women of color in Atlanta; and 22 ideas for increasing your Instagram audience or engagement from Facebook Journalism Project fellows.

Teens from Wyoming, Appalachia chat about coal country; we hear from Pennsylvania voters

October 28, 2020: Our partner stations at Ohio Valley Resource and Wyoming Public Media brought together teens who live in coal country for a fascinating Zoom discussion. Also, StateImpact Pennsylvania reporters gathered voter thoughts across the state and published The Corridor Counts project, featuring Latinos in each county along Route 222.

How Black voices are being amplified on public radio; KCUR gets texts about voting; why linking is key

October 21, 2020: Several of our partner stations have been featuring Black voices this month, from Black farmers in Oklahoma to young activists in Indiana. See how it’s being done. Also: We’re hosting two listening sessions before and after Election Day; KCUR uses its texting tool to ask for questions on voting and the responses were immediate; and the case for internal linking.

Surprising successes from KOSU direct mail experiment; our talk show got voicemails

October 14, 2020: Our partner station KOSU in Oklahoma sent more than 27,000 postcards to 4 rural communities hoping to get more people to email the station or join a texting club. While those numbers have been low, the station was surprised by the people who engaged on Facebook groups after receiving the postcards. Also: Read about our first talk show episode!

Our talk show hosts and voicemail number, how to analyze Facebook Live stats and more

October 7, 2020: We’re so excited to be working with hosts from across the country for our show, which starts Saturday, Oct. 10! Also: a story and video about how to analyze success with Facebook Live, what our partner networks are doing to engage voters and how you can apply to receive Dow Jones News Fund interns next summer.

Our work with Local Voices Network and a Race and Gender hotline for journalists

September 30, 2020: The Society for Professional Journalists has a confidential hotline for journalists to answer race and gender questions. The service partners with experienced Black and LGBT journalists and educators to provide advice. Also: We’re working with Local Voices Network to host and record conversations with communities. The cool part is being able to share the recording, check it out.

What KUNR learned from its first Spanish Facebook Live; our partnership with ASU

September 23, 2020: “Our Facebook Live Q&A about the reopening of Nevada schools reinforced the need for KUNR to provide explanatory and resource-focused reporting in Spanish,” says bilingual reporter Natalie Van Hoozer. Read more about her takeaways from the event. Also: We’re working with News Co/Lab on media literacy courses and a gender decoder tool that can be useful for examining your job descriptions.

National Listening Sessions continue, Colorado Public Radio's election FAQ

September 16, 2020: What we’ve heard so far in our national listening sessions and how you can sign up for our next round, which starts Thursday. Also: Colorado Public Radio’s election FAQ is a lesson in transparency and a free teleprompter app great for reading scripts or presentations.

Our Election 2020 talk show has a host; a free and pretty design app

September 9, 2020: We’re thrilled to announce that Rose Scott, a journalist with WABE in Atlanta, will be the host of our 6-week national talk show starting in October. Also: What America told us in July, a parenting photo project from KPCC/LAist and the free app we use to design cool graphics.

PMJA/PRPD Summit Plus Lessons From the National Listening Sessions

September 2, 2020: A quick look at what you can expect at this year’s PMJA/PRPD Summit from Sept. 21-24; what Mountain West News Bureau’s Nate Hegyi has seen so far on his ride along the Continental Divide; an idea for an interactive guide on how to vote by mail; and tips on how to make the most out of your Instagram Live event.

We're planning our next national talk show; now's the time to address ballot concerns

August 26, 2020: We are gearing up for America Amplified: Election 2020, a weekly national talk show launching October 10. We have some early details here, stay tuned for more. Also: why now is a good time to ask your audience for their questions about ballots; KUNR’s Facebook Live about schools reopening for Spanish speakers; and Nieman Foundation and Report for America are looking to support more journalists.

He's riding 900 miles through rural America for journalism and election engagement from Citizen's Agenda

August 19, 2020: Mountain West News Bureau is sending Nate Hegyi, a rural reporter, on a bike ride along the Continental Divide to hear from communities there ahead of the election. This engagement work will continue after the trip ends with a virtual conversation led in partnership with Local Voices Network. Also: Voice texting in a Google doc and ISeeChange seeks partners for community climate change stories.

KOSU shares audio diary tips and announcing our National Listening Sessions

August 12, 2020: Kateleigh Mills, KOSU’s special projects reporter, has taught people how to record their own audio diaries, but it doesn’t mean she has less work to do. She shares what she’s learned. Also: We need your help to make our National Listening Sessions project a success. You can read more in our newsletter or find the stories on our site: National Listening Session; KOSU audio diaries lessons.

Community organizing lessons for journalists and Mountain West's virtual coffee hour

August 5, 2020: Community organizers tell the stories of their communities by spending time with them and learning the narratives at play. We’ve distilled some of the lessons from our July 31 webinar into a PDF for download. Also: Mountain West News Bureau first virtual coffee hour was a success, with a diverse range of participants. Learn how they did it!

Webinar with community organizers, CapRadio's participatory journalism lessons

July 29, 2020: Register for our July 31 webinar, where WHYY’s Sandra Clark will lead a conversation with three community organizers. You’ll learn what community organizing is and how its tactics can be applied to journalism. Also: tips for using a texting service and see how Side Effects Public Media translated COVID-19 FAQs for the Burmese community.

Why tracking source diversity is just the start and an Instagram tip

July 22, 2020: Doing an audit of the diversity of your sources is a step toward understanding how reflective stories are of the communities you cover and the gaps your coverage may have. But it is just a start toward making an impactful, systemic change toward more inclusive journalism. We share how we’re doing an audit of America Amplified partner stations. Plus: How you can add links to your Instagram bio without changing it every time.

Webinar on collaborating with local media; what we're hearing from America

July 15, 2020: Register now for our July 17 webinar featuring Dave Rosenthal of Side Effects Public Media and Oseye Boyd of the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest African-American newspapers in the country. The two organizations are in their second year of collaboration and they say now is the time to forge more such partnerships. Plus: How to host a Twitter chat, and some of the themes emerging from our throughline questions.

What rural America is telling us so far and a special thesaurus for SEO

July 8, 2020: The four reporters participating in our “rural spotlight” project featuring four communities across America have some insights to share. Also: Here’s why you should know about Thsrs!

How to listen differently and a dispatch from Nebraska

July 1, 2020: Hélène Biandudi of Solutions Journalism Network shared 22 questions that can be asked to complicate the narrative on divisive issues. Also, NET and America Amplified reporter Megan Feeney shares what she learned from setting up a table at a farmers market in Syracuse, Nebraska, to talk to people. Tip: “You've got to warm people up and make them feel like it's fun or interesting.”

How WITF hosted a respectful conversation on changing systemic racism

June 24, 2020: WITF in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has launched a series of YouTube Live community conversations called “Toward Racial Justice: A Conversation on Systemic Racism.” Its first one was June 18 and was moderated by Charles Ellison, who works at WURD in Philadelphia, the only Black-owned talk radio station in Pennsylvania. Read about how it went and sign up for the next one. Also: a useful Twitter search tip.

Top 7 takeaways from NHPR’s Spanish outreach efforts

June 17, 2020: Our June 12 webinar led by NHPR reporter Daniela Allee and writer/producer Maria Aguirre was full of great tips and advice. They shared the importance of convening a community advisory group and what they’re doing in WhatsApp. Plus: Learn about WITF’s plan to host community conversations around systemic racism in Central Pennsylvania.

Newsroom care resources during times of trauma

June 10, 2020: It’s an exhausting time for journalists, and even more so for journalists of color. We provide a list of resources for newsrooms to help their staffers as they navigate through the news cycle. We are also offering two webinars this week: One on fostering a trauma-aware newsroom and the other on NHPR’s Spanish-speaking efforts.

Protest coverage resources and guidelines

June 3, 2020: As demonstrations and protests continue across the country since the death of George Floyd, we gathered this resource guide for journalists. Floyd, a black man, was killed while being arrested by Minneapolis police. A white officer has since been charged with second-degree murder. This list of resources include knowing your rights as a journalist, being aware of the language you use and more.

Our national talk show by the numbers and save the date for our next webinar!

May 27, 2020: Our last “Life, Community, and COVID-19” talk shows will air May 30. We learned a lot during this 6-week run, and we’ve broken it down by the numbers for a quick read. Also: Our next webinar on June 5 will be about how and why NHPR decided to experiment with WhatsApp to reach the Latinx community. Don’t miss it!

Highlights from our pandemic reporting webinar and try your own audiograms

May 20, 2020: How are reporters making connections with sources during the pandemic? And what are their self-care tips? Plus: Our managing director Donna Vestal was on a panel at the Collaborative Journalism Summit and we’re using Headliner to create social-media friendly audiograms, check it out.

Register for our webinar, learn about our rural engagement project

May 13, 2020: Alisa Barba, our senior editor, shares some insight into our rural engagement project, which started this month with two stories from the Mountain West News Bureau. Also, our webinar “The Awkward Reality of Reporting During a Pandemic” will be Friday, May 15. Don’t miss out on this group moderated discussion with reporters, editors and community engagement specialists.

Community engagement tips for any newsroom from Ashley Alvarado of KPCC

May 6, 2020: Ann Alquist, our community engagement director, took some great notes during an April 29 webinar featuring Ashley Alvarado. Ann digested them into 5 strategies any newsroom can use. Also: How we gathered voicemails for a poignant pandemic audio diary, read what reporters have to say about community engagement, and learn more about WHYY’s effort to increase its cultural competency.

What we learned from our first national talk show!

April 29, 2020: The first two hours of “Life, Community, and COVID-19” were electric inside the KCUR studio as the team juggled guests, calls and tweets from across the country. We’re gearing up for our second show this weekend. Also, check out APM Research Lab’s revealing infographics for its “The Color of Coronavirus” project and a great syncing tip from Andrea Gutierrez of NPR’s “It’s Been a Minute.”

We're launching a national talk show on COVID-19

April 22, 2020: Yes, it’s true! We’re thrilled to announce that starting this Saturday, April 25, “America Amplified: Life, Community, and COVID-19” — a live two-hour talk show — will air on stations across the country. Our first show will come from (our partner network) WABE in Atlanta and KQED in San Francisco. Plus: notes from our texting webinar and more engagement news from our partner networks!

Texting webinar registration, learn about our podcast partnership, Zoom tips

April 15, 2020: Texting is a great way to directly communicate with your audience, and Brittani Howell of Side Effects Public Media and Robin Tate Rockel of Indianapolis Public Broadcasting will share what they’ve learned in this webinar. Also: How to reach Spanish-speaking audiences from NAHJ president and Zoom security tips you may not know about.