Remaking the Economy: Redefining Journalism

What is journalism now, and what should it be?

In this Remaking the Economy webinar conversation, developed in partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit News the panelists discuss the state of journalism and explore how it can advance economic justice. Featuring Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Diné) (ICT, formerly Indian Country Today), Derrick Cain (Resolve Philly), and Crystal Good (Black by God/The West Virginian) the speakers explore the growth of nonprofit publications; changes in what counts as journalism; and the rise of Black, Indigenous and people of color leadership.

Additionally, these community-based journalism leaders also respond to range of questions, including the following:

What is journalism now?
What should journalism and what stories should journalism tell?
What does community-based media look like and how does it stay accountable to the people it is trying to reach?
What are effective strategies that journalism can use to promote economic justice and hold public officials and private corporations accountable?
How can community and nonprofit media effective address the growing menace of disinformation?
What is the ecosystem of support that enables nonprofit and community-based media to thrive?

Resources

Steve Baron, “How the Resolve Philly collaborative makes news partnerships work: It’s all about the jawn,” Lake City, MI: Local Media Association, November 10, 2020,

Susanna Dilliplane, INN Index 2023: Index Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Nonprofit News Sector, Beverly Hills, CA: Institute for Nonprofit News, 2023.

Steve Dubb, “Indian Country Today’s Future Is Bright after Near-Death Experience,” NPQ, June 16, 2021.

John W. Miller, “‘Black by God’ Tells a Fresh Story for West Virginia,” Moundsville, PBS Film and Magazine, March 8, 2022.

About the authors

Steve Dubb

Steve Dubb is senior editor of economic justice at NPQ, where he writes articles (including NPQ’s Economy Remix column), moderates Remaking the Economy webinars, and works to cultivate voices from the field and help them reach a broader audience. Prior to coming to NPQ in 2017, Steve worked with cooperatives and nonprofits for over two decades, including twelve years at The Democracy Collaborative and three years as executive director of NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation). In his work, Steve has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous reports; participated in and facilitated learning cohorts; designed community building strategies; and helped build the field of community wealth building. Steve is the lead author of Building Wealth: The Asset-Based Approach to Solving Social and Economic Problems (Aspen 2005) and coauthor (with Rita Hodges) of The Road Half Traveled: University Engagement at a Crossroads, published by MSU Press in 2012. In 2016, Steve curated and authored Conversations on Community Wealth Building, a collection of interviews of community builders that Steve had conducted over the previous decade.

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Diné) is editor in chief of ICT (formerly Indian Country Today), an outlet which features stories that make Indigenous peoples come alive.

Derrick Cain

Derrick Cain is Director of Community Engagement at Resolve Philly in Philadelphia, which works with newsrooms to guide community engagement strategies.

Crystal Good

Crystal Good is Publisher of Black by God, a West Virginia-based community publication that centers Black stories and life in West Virginia and Appalachia.

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