Carving out new lanes for early-stage news startups with Tiny News Collective’s Amy Kovac-Ashley

Local News Matters

Amy Kovac-Ashley, the executive director of Tiny News Collective shares insights on how Tiny News Collective supports early-stage news founders, particularly those from traditionally excluded communities, by providing resources, tools, and a supportive community.

The discussion covers the importance of diverse voices in local journalism, the challenges faced by local news startups, and the innovative ways they can engage with their audiences. Amy emphasizes the significance of understanding community needs and tailoring editorial and business strategies accordingly.

Key takeaways include the potential for local news to act as a community connector, the value of arts and culture coverage, and the need for sustainable support systems for small news organizations. Amy also highlights successful case studies, such as Future Tides and The Shout, and explores the role of new revenue opportunities in sustaining local journalism.

Episode chapters:

(02:36) - The mission of Tiny News Collective

(05:24) - Changing the face of local news

(07:43) - Arts and culture coverage as community connector

(16:43) - Building support systems for early-stage news founders

(27:03) - Tailoring support to individual needs

(31:39) - The challenges of early-stage founders

(43:19) - Scaling support

(45:46) - Criteria for joining Tiny News Collective

(48:15) - Rapid-fire questions

Links:

• Amy Kovac-Ashley: Linkedln, Twitter/X

• The Tiny News Collective

• Mentioned

• Cara Kuhlman and Future Tides

• Mazin Sidahmed and Documented

• Jiquanda Johnson and Flint Beat

• Nancy Flores and Austin Vida

• The Shout

• Project Optimist

• Duc Luu and Knight Foundation

• Aaron Pilofar

• Heather Bryant

• Tyler Fisher

• Claudia Amaro and Planeta Venus

• Jeff Jarvis

• Jay Rosen

• Wichita Foundation

• LION Publishers

• INN (Investigative News Network)

• New Mexico Local News Fund

• Documenters

• Journalism and Design program at The New School

• Recommendations:

• Comedy;

• Mike Birbiglia and Working It Out podcast

• WTF with Marc Maron

• My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman

• John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.

• Trevor Noah stand up

• City Cast

• Northern Exposure and Northern Overexposure podcast

• The Hill Is Home

• The DC Line

• Local News Matters: web, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.

Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Michael Shaprio (TAPinto), Kenny Katzgrau (redbankgreen and Broadstreet), John Garrett (Community Impact), Shannon Kinney (Dream Local Digital), Larry Ryckman (The Colorado Sun), Frank Mungeam (Local Media Association), Kelly Ann Scott (Alabama Media Group), Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita (URL Media), Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro (National Trust for Local News), Mike Rispoli and Richard Young (via When the People Decide), Sarabeth Berman (American Journalism Project), Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg (Intermountain Jewish News), Lyndsay C. Green (via The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser (New Mexico Local News Fund), Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt (The Mountain-Ear), Dan Grech (BizHack), Zack Richner (Easy Tax Credits), Tracie Powell (Pivot Fund), Dan Oshinsky (Inbox Collective), Linda Shapley (via What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton (Zette, Column), Charity Huff (January Spring), Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry (Aurora Sentinel), Steve Waldman (Rebuild Local News), Maritza Félix (Conecta Arizona), Michael Bolden (American Press Institute), Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins (CFOIC, Colorado College), Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson (Spaceship Media), Jennifer Brandel (Hearken, Democracy SOS), Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh (Sopris Sun).