September in Albuquerque was notable not just for its above-average temperatures, but also for its above average concentration on local news.

New Mexico has a very healthy — that is, collabortive and supportive — journalistic ecosystem. Of course, it would be healthier if it could adequately cover the vast needs of a vast state. But we’re working on it.

That work was in evidence on two Saturdays in September in which we (others mostly, but I helped) put on two day-long conferences to advance the mission and the future prospects of local-level coverage in our state.

The bigger of the two events was the 2023 New Mexico Local News Summit, Sept 30, sponsored by the NM Local News Fund.

Above: Discussing the role of philanthropy in local news.

Here’s a recap provided by my UNM Intermediate Reporting class:

https://newmexiconewsport.com/conference-confronts-deepening-local-news-crisis/

I also liked this personalized recap by a former student of mine now working in Santa Fe:

https://mailchi.mp/searchlightnm.org/high-beam-83-10102023?e=95a051c202

 

Above: A panel on immigration coverage at the SPJ conference was presented by the state chapter of NAHJ.

Two Saturdays earlier, the Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists put up its 2023 Region 9 Conference, “New Mexico at the Crossroads.”

https://spjriogrande.org/2023-region-9-conference/

If you peek at what was done here, you’ll see New Mexico has some hard-working, super-committed, leaders in journalism, education, funding, community organizations, and government — all willing to join together to solve big issues. Among the biggest of these issues is the survival and health of community journalism itself.

Stay tuned — what’s been gradually emerging over the years here is a web of collaborative people who will find a way to bring truth, trust and accountability to our communities.

As you’ll read in the account of the summit, we’re all working to amass significant funding to propel these urgent efforts forward. (And, teasing here, I hope we can actually announce something major in a few weeks!)