The Oregon Media Collaborative (OMC) is a group of journalists, local news supporters, and media scholars from across the state committed to meeting Oregonians’ news and informational needs.
We know what our struggling news industry is facing. So we’re coming together with a goal to:
- Build a sense of community among Oregon journalists by creating and leveraging platforms for connection and collaboration, fostering morale and mutual support. °
- Facilitate collective problem-solving through shared forums to address operational, technical, and digital transition challenges. °
- Advocate for press freedom, public access to information, and pro-media legislation by engaging lawmakers and protecting journalists’ rights.
- Collaborate on in-depth and regional coverage by pooling resources, filling gaps in under-covered areas, and sharing expertise to support smaller outlets.
- Share resources and expertise by addressing operational challenges such as bookkeeping, payroll, and advertising; pooling expertise in technical and administrative areas; leveraging multimedia, digital, and social media strategies through partnerships with students and journalism schools; and developing shared funding models like collective grants and other revenue-sharing initiatives.
- Offer training and capacity-building by providing support for under-funded organizations and drawing on insights and knowledge from journalism support organizations such as Agora, FORJ, Gather, Listening Post Collective, Trusting News, as well as media and journalism schools, especially from the School of Journalism and Communication at UO. °
- Expand the reach of local journalism statewide while increasing media literacy and public awareness of its value.
- Strengthen Oregon’s civic health by enhancing the quality and accessibility of local news and civic information throughout the state by first listening to Oregonian’s civic information needs. °
The collaborative currently includes:
- Over 65 Journalists from newspapers, digital-only outlets, radio and television broadcast stations.
- Researchers and academic scholars contribute their expertise to understanding and addressing Oregon’s information ecosystem.
We hope to expand this network to include key civic information providers, recognizing their crucial role in strengthening Oregon’s information landscape.
Join the Collaborative and Spread the Word
If you are a journalist, civic information provider, or media supporter of local news, we invite you to join the Oregon Media Collaborative and be part of our efforts. Whether you can contribute through collaborating on projects, sharing insights, or simply lending your voice to the conversation, there’s a place for you in this network.
We welcome participation at all levels, creating a space where members can exchange ideas, tackle challenges, and collectively work to enhance the quality of local news and information available to Oregonians. Our goal is to foster a collaborative, good-faith environment where we support each other in strengthening local news and civic health.
Join us in building a healthier, more informed, and engaged Oregon.
Complete this form to get involved today!