Public media station KBIA, based in Columbia, planned a listening session at Centralia’s Public Library. They organized tables and chairs, loveseats, and a portable radio studio to talk with local experts – that is residents –  about the town of Centralia. 

Covering immigration under a new administration requires thoughtful engagement, detailed planning, and a commitment to ethical journalism. This tipsheet offers practical guidance for organizing engagement initiatives and reporting responsibly on immigration. Grounded in NPR’s latest editorial guidance and insights from experts, the document emphasizes protecting sources, safeguarding journalists, and maintaining editorial integrity.

From earning community trust to avoiding sensationalism and managing legal risks, these recommendations aim to help newsrooms navigate the complexities of immigration coverage while fostering respectful interactions and informed and empathetic reporting.

How VPM News and other America Amplified partner stations boosted engagement numbers by answering questions on Reddit

There is ample evidence that community engagement does ultimately pay off. These insights come from working for more than five years in support of community engagement with dozens of public media newsrooms across the country.

Traditionally, public media journalists have kept their distance from the development and fundraising departments. Yet there is a case to be made that in this day and age, all journalists can and should work more closely with marketing departments because, fundamentally, their goals are the same: get the stories and information out to as broad an audience as possible.

More and more, young people are getting their news through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. How is a public media station to penetrate this audience’s feeds, particularly during election season? Our social media strategist Obi Okezie lays out his tips for keeping things simple but meaningful when expanding to a new platform. 

WITF is safeguarding Pennsylvania's elections by preemptively countering misinformation, hosting events with officials, and partnering with organizations like Votebeat. They emphasize transparent, accurate coverage and use new tools to keep voters informed and confident.

Factchequeado fact-checks items that are re-traceable and have impact on public debate and decision making. They also debunk viral content, which is often user-generated content where authors are not as easily identifiable.