Reinventing local journalism with community at its core: Exit interview with Candice Fortman

Local News Matters

Candice Fortman, former executive director of Outlier Media, shares her journey transforming local journalism in Detroit. She reflects on the innovative service journalism model she helped build, which focuses on filling critical information gaps for underserved communities. Candice discusses how Outlier evolved from a scrappy startup into a well-respected newsroom known for directly addressing residents’ needs through text messaging and other community-centered approaches.

Candice offers insights into the challenges of scaling and funding local journalism, particularly in economically struggling areas like Detroit. She also reflects on her leadership growth, her partnership with Outlier’s founder Sarah Alvarez, and how they navigated the impact of COVID-19 on local news. Looking ahead, Candice talks about her excitement for new opportunities and her commitment to telling stories that matter to local communities.

Listeners will find inspiration in Candice’s vision of journalism as a public good and her advice for newsrooms that want to make a lasting impact through deep community engagement.

Episode chapters:

(00:02:30) - The mission and model of Outlier Media

(00:07:26) - Scaling and evolving Outlier Media’s operations

(00:11:34) - Fundraising challenges and merging with MuckRock

(00:14:51) - COVID-19, text messaging and refocusing on local information needs

(00:23:21) - Journalism as a public good

(00:27:57) - Candice’s leadership journey and growth

(00:35:32) - Growing up Black in Detroit

(00:43:13) - Fundraising advice and community impact

(00:49:22) - Rapid-fire questions

(00:57:26) - Media and local recommendations

Links:

• Candice Fortman: Linkedln,Twitter/X

• Outlier Media

• JSK Fellowships at Stanford University

• Mentioned

• Sarah Alvarez

• City Bureau

• Documenters

• MuckRock

• Jay Hamilton

• Conecta Arizona

• Baltimore Beat

• WDET

• Michigan Public Radio

• Oaklandside

• MLK50

• Local recommendations

• Riverwalk (Detroit)

• Source Booksellers

• Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre

• Eastern Market

• Motor City Wine

• Cutter’s Bar and Grill

• Media recommendations

• She Has A Name podcast by Tonya Mosley

• “The Nonprofit Hospital That Makes Millions, Owns a Collection Agency and Relentlessly Sues the Poor” by Wendi Thomas (MLK50/ProPublica)

• Renaissance by Beyonce

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

• Amazing Grace by Aretha Franklin

• Local News Matters: web, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

• Pirate Audio

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.

Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Jean Friedman-Rudovsky (Resolve Philly), Jay Rosen (NYU), Sue Cross (Exit interview, INN), Mary Margaret White (Mississippi Today), Amy Kovac-Ashley (Tiny News Collective), Michael Shaprio (TAPinto), Kenny Katzgrau (redbankgreen and Broadstreet), John Garrett (Community Impact), Shannon Kinney (Dream Local Digital), Larry Ryckman (The Colorado Sun), Frank Mungeam (Local Media Association), Kelly Ann Scott (Alabama Media Group), Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita (URL Media), Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro (National Trust for Local News), Mike Rispoli and Richard Young (via When the People Decide), Sarabeth Berman (American Journalism Project), Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg (Intermountain Jewish News), Lyndsay C. Green (via The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser (New Mexico Local News Fund), Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt (The Mountain-Ear), Dan Grech (BizHack), Zack Richner (Easy Tax Credits), Tracie Powell (Pivot Fund), Dan Oshinsky (Inbox Collective), Linda Shapley (via What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton (Zette, Column), Charity Huff (January Spring), Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry (Aurora Sentinel), Steve Waldman (Rebuild Local News), Maritza Félix (Conecta Arizona), Michael Bolden (American Press Institute), Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins (CFOIC, Colorado College), Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson (Spaceship Media), Jennifer Brandel (Hearken, Democracy SOS), Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh (Sopris Sun).