The Devil Strip poised to break new ground as local news cooperative
Publication will be first newsroom to introduce co-op model to the United States
Akron, Ohio: In an era marked by expanding local news deserts, The Devil Strip has announced it will become the first community news cooperative in the United States. The publication’s transition to this new model is supported by a $200,000 investment over two years from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of its $300 million initiative focused on building the future of local news and information.
Through the co-op model, community members who value quality journalism, democracy and civic engagement can become co-owners of The Devil Strip. Starting Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, the publication will offer ownership shares to the public, which will grant local shareholders a vote on topics that shape the future of The Devil Strip, among other benefits.
“The Devil Strip is building a program that will not only be transformational for Akron, but that could also shift the entire local news landscape,” said Karen Rundlet, director for journalism at Knight Foundation. “Giving community members a stake in the newsroom is a new, innovative way to ensure residents stay informed, engaged and actively involved in civic issues.”
Knight Foundation’s support will allow The Devil Strip to invest in areas that will increase its reach throughout the Akron, one of the 26 communities where John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. The Devil Strip will use Knight Foundation support to focus on improved distribution, marketing, events, cover the business and legal fees associated with creating a co-op and provide a salary for publisher Chris Horne. It will be the first time he’s drawn a paycheck from The Devil Strip since he started the publication five years ago.
Knight’s investment follows many recent accomplishments for The Devil Strip, including:
Publisher Chris Horne was selected for the 2019 JSK Fellowship, a highly competitive 10-month program in residence at Stanford University.
The Devil Strip was the first US publication chosen for New York University’s Membership in News Fund through the Membership Puzzle Project.
Admitted as a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News and chosen to participate in the national NewsMatch donor campaign, Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Featured as a journalism case study in the Lenfest Institute’s Solution Set series.
Since its online launch five years ago, The Devil Strip has focused on increasing civic engagement by helping more people care more about Akron and showcasing stories about people who make the area unique.
“Our mission is to make Akron a better place to live by connecting Akronites to their neighbors, to our city and to a greater sense of shared purpose,” Horne said. “The co-op structure will protect and support our mission because it requires us to involve — and be accountable to — our community in a deeper way.”
Over the past five years, The Devil Strip has published more than 150 local writers, photographers and illustrators who have used the platform to explore the city and share their love of it.
“The most important stories are the ones we tell ourselves about ourselves, which we believe is as true for cities as it is individuals,” Horne said. “That’s why it’s as important to us to showcase the people who make this place unique as it is to publish investigations that hold the powerful accountable.”
Tax-deductible donations received through Dec. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the national NewsMatch campaign, which will help expand The Devil Strip’s community-focused, human-centered journalism in 2020.
###