Why The Courier Journal is bringing its newsroom to your neighborhood
Here’s the truth.
Everyone doesn’t have the same access to The Courier Journal.
There are people who are more connected and more comfortable reaching out to a reporter or an editor. People who know someone on staff or share something in common with them or just know how to get our attention.
There also are certain communities that get a lot of news coverage, particularly those that are booming with development — new stores, restaurants or subdivisions. Other neighborhoods get little media attention. Residents there are less likely to contact The Courier Journal or feel a connection to our staff.
We want to change that. So we are bringing our newsroom to you.
Help us report: What do we need to know about your neighborhood? Tell us in this form
Starting July 5, The Courier Journal will create a mobile newsroom that will travel to communities that are often underrepresented in our coverage. We have partnered with the Louisville Free Public Library and will work from its various branches. We will stay in each community for about a month before moving to another one. Our goal is to listen and learn so we can do a better job covering our entire community, particularly our many diverse neighborhoods.
Our first stop is Shively, a city with about 14,600 residents in western Jefferson County along Dixie Highway. We will be there weekdays July 5-29. We will spend August in the Russell neighborhood in west Louisville. Then we will travel to Okolona, Newburg and Iroquois, setting up a small newsroom staffed by two to three journalists in the libraries there.
"The mobile newsroom is one intentional but important step that we are taking to learn more about businesses, organizations, schools, churches and unique people and places in neighborhoods throughout the metro area," said Courier Journal Executive Editor Mary Irby-Jones. "We hope that residents in these communities will stop by to introduce themselves, meet our journalists and share their ideas on what we should write about in their communities.
"We are absolutely thrilled to partner with our local libraries to embed in these communities," Irby-Jones said.
Paul Burns, communications director for the library system, said the libraries are centers for learning and hubs for human interaction. "They serve as community conveners – providing safe spaces for the exchange of ideas, information and shared experiences."
We invite you to stop by and say hello and tell us what’s on your mind. We are there to listen. And learn.
We will publish stories, photos and videos from your neighborhood and work to make connections that will help us better tell the stories of our entire community.
But don’t wait until we arrive to let us know about stories we should tell or places we should visit and people we should meet. Use the form below to reach out to us now or fill it out through this link.
Here’s where you’ll find our mobile newsroom
Shively, July 5-29
Shively Library/Council Chambers, 3920 Dixie Highway
Russell neighborhood, Aug. 1-26
Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, 604 South 10th St.
Okolona, Sept. 6-23
South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd.
Newburg, Oct. 3-21
Newburg branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, 4800 Exeter Ave.
Iroquois, Nov. 1-18
Iroquois branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, 601 W. Woodlawn Ave.
If you have any questions, reach out to Veda Morgan at vmorgan@courier-journal.com.
Veda Morgan is the senior director for engagement and diversity at The Courier Journal. Contact her at vmorgan@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4215.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Courier Journal mobile newsroom is coming to your neighborhood
