Gather is a project + platform to support community-minded journalists and other engagement professionals. Our mission: make journalism more responsive to the public’s needs and more inclusive of the public’s voices and diversity, by helping journalists, educators, and students who share these values find each other, find resources and best practices, and find support and mentorship. Learn more about Gather.
The guide “Taking Care” by jesikah maria ross emphasizes the importance of practicing care in journalism, offering practical tips and insights for creating impactful and healing storytelling.
Prisoncast! is a radio program for incarcerated people inside Illinois prisons and their families and loved ones on the outside. It is a request show, asking families and incarcerated folks for audio requests, musical preferences, and other topics they want journalists to cover. Currently, it is produced by WBEZ and Illinois Public Radio.
Community engagement often happens in real time—through social media, events, or private conversations—which means colleagues and readers might miss valuable insights. Our panel shared what they’ve learned about effective community engagement practices.
“I heard about Gather and thought, “Yes, this is the group I need!” I joined the library last December after six years in documentary news and came to Gather to find support and ideas and to meet colleagues in the broader field of engagement.”
“I’m on Gather because there are so many ways that folks are practicing engagement across the world, and I always want to figure out how to iterate on ideas or fill in gaps that exist.”
“Gather has absolutely validated my career path, taught me the language to talk about the work, gives me connections in a world where it feels like there’s no set path, and challenges how I show up in the communities & organizations in which I serve.”
