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The Evansville NewsLab (ENL) is reimagining local news. As a civic journalism project created to help close the local reporting gap, ENL is seeking individuals who have an interest in helping document local news.
The Evansville NewsLab and Our Times newspaper will be hosting two different types of monthly events in EVPL meeting rooms:
Listening Sessions
We want to hear your thoughts on what local news should be covered in Evansville. We’re happy to hear any news tips and angles on local issues that aren’t being covered. We’ll also give you a brief look at the Evansville Civic Journalism program and how you can get involved.
Wednesday, Sep. 17
5:30 – 6:30 pm
EVPL East
Wednesday, Oct. 15
5:30 – 7:00 pm
EVPL McCollough
Wednesday, Nov. 19
12:00 – 1:30 pm
EVPL North Park
Civic Journalism Training
You can change the way local news is covered in Evansville and get paid at the same time! Our Times newspaper and the Evansville NewsLab are hosting a training session for people interested in joining the Evansville Civic Journalism hub. Pre-registration is required.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
5:30 – 7:00 pm
EVPL Central
About Evansville NewsLab
A vigorous local news environment is critical to economic health, achieving equity for marginalized groups, and raising the quality of life for all residents of a community.
As in many cities, shrinking resources and industry changes have left Evansville with less local news coverage than is adequate to serve our community. Existing news outlets are unable to provide thorough reporting to help ensure equity for all residents in key areas such as local government, education, business, and health.
Evansville NewsLab (ENL) is a ChangeLab course at the University of Evansville. It is led by UE students in various majors with the support and guidance of UE faculty and dedicated professional advisors from the community. This is a civic journalism project created to help close the local reporting gap. Civic journalism includes local news, important civic information, and cultural reporting, produced with the goal of serving the community’s needs. It is characterized by involvement of community members and deliberate, continual engagement to ensure that the community’s needs in this vital area are being met.
Multiple local organizations collaborated to help bring about ENL, including:
- The League of Women Voters
- United Neighborhoods of Evansville
- Young and Established
- Immigrant Welcome & Resource Center
- Centro Latino + Americano
- and the Evansville chapter of the NAACP
The project has also been guided by the University of Evansville’s Center for Innovation and Change and has received interest and support from the administration of Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry and the Evansville City Council.
The Lumina Foundation is providing significant funding for ENL and Our Times to pursue civic journalism solutions. Two additional national partners are supporting the project with financial backing and/or expertise. The Listening Post Collective has provided valuable guidance and underwriting for a community news assessment. Press Forward, a nationwide, nonpartisan philanthropic initiative with 36 chapters across the U.S., works to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news; their contributions to Our Times have helped make this project possible.
For more information, attend one of the listening sessions held at EVPL, or email ourtimesnews@memorialcdc.org
