Collaboration over competition: How Oklahoma Media Center is strengthening local news

In this episode of Keep It Local, host Ryan Welton chats with Rob Collins, executive director of the Oklahoma Media Center, about how a statewide collaborative is helping newsrooms band together to tackle big challenges—and build a stronger future for local journalism.

They discuss:

• What a news collaborative is and why it matters
• How Oklahoma Media Center supports newsrooms with funding, training, and tools
• Why collaboration—not competition—is key to sustainability
• Creative ways to rebuild trust with local audiences
• The future of local news in Oklahoma and beyond
• Rob’s vision for recruiting, training, and retaining the next generation of journalists

🚨 Plus: Rob shares how OMC has distributed nearly $300,000 in project funding and launched innovative campaigns like “Free Press Isn’t Free” to promote the value of journalism.

📍 Mentioned in this episode:

• OklahomaMediaCenter.com – Learn more about OMC’s work
• LocalMedia.org – More about the Local Media Association

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with a newsroom leader or journalist you know!