Jennifer Larino, executive director of Lede New Orleans, shares how her organization is reshaping local journalism by training young BIPOC storytellers to address community information needs. She discusses the origins of Lede New Orleans, the challenges of building an inclusive newsroom, and the importance of creating trusted spaces where community voices are heard and amplified.

Jennifer explains how slowing down in the reporting process has allowed her team to engage deeply with their community, resulting in innovative approaches like their Community Reporting Fellowship. She also highlights the unique programs at Lede New Orleans, from multimedia storytelling workshops to short documentaries, and emphasizes the value of centering young voices in journalism.

The conversation delves into the practicalities of sustaining this work, from funding strategies to measuring impact in meaningful ways. Jennifer also reflects on the power of collaboration with non-journalists, the role of mentorship, and the importance of fostering trust in local news ecosystems.

Episode chapters:(00:03:09) - Founding Lede New Orleans and addressing gaps in representation

(00:09:41) - Underrepresented communities in a media swamp

(00:15:23) - Lede New Orleans programs

(00:23:11) - Engaging the audience and experimenting with content partnerships

(00:28:05) - The challenges and benefits of slowing down

(00:33:25) - Funding and financial sustainability for slow journalism

(00:39:44) - Measuring impact: Community trust and alumni outcomes

(00:45:43) - Collaborating with non-journalists and reimagining storytelling

(00:50:41) - For younger multimedia journalists, look at your training, leadership and management styles

(00:56:53) - How the JSK Fellowship catalyzed Lede New Orleans

(01:01:46) - Rapid-fire questions

(01:25:34) - Media and local recommendations

Links:

• Show notes

• Jennifer Larino: LinkedIn , Twitter, Instagram

• Lede New Orleans

• Mentioned

• Press Forward

• The Times-Picayune 

• New Orleans CityBusiness

• JSK Fellowships at Stanford University

• Advance Local

• The Advocate

• Ejaaz Mason

• YR Media

• Verite

• Canopy Atlanta

• City Bureau

• Grow Dat Youth Farm

• Local recommendations

• Jennifer’s Google map with New Orlean’s recommendations

• Cafe Du Monde

• City Park

• Lake Pontchartrain

• 1000 Figs

• Preservation Hall

• Tipitina’s 

• Media recommendations

• Verite News

• TransLash

• Canopy Atlanta

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

• Pirate Audio

• 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: Katherine Ann Rowlands (Bay City News), Jim O’Rourke (O’Rourke Media Group), Teri Finneman, Nick Mathews and Pat Ferrucci (Reviving Local News), Nic Dawes (THE CITY), Allison Taylor Levine (Local News Initiative Delaware), Crystal Good (Black by God),  Lisa Snowden (Baltimore Beat), Karen Rundlet (INN), Jim Brady (Knight Foundation), Candice Fortman (Exit interview, Outlier Media), Jean Friedman-Rudovsky (Resolve Philly), Jay Rosen (NYU), Sue Cross (Exit interview, INN), Mary Margaret White (Mississippi Today), Amy Kovac-Ashley (Tiny News Collective), Michael Shapiro (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).