About this episode

This episode features a discussion with four media leaders about the challenges and future of journalism, emphasizing community and equity.

This episode of "Gathering Ground" brings together four visionary media leaders—Jhmira Alexander, Silvia Rivera, Susy Schultz, and Tracy Baim—for a candid conversation about the state and future of journalism. They explore the collapse of legacy news models, the spread of misinformation, and why community-centered, equity-driven journalism is not just a goal, but a necessity. Episode Highlights - Jhmira Alexander on building trust and centering community through storytelling at Public Narrative - Silvia Rivera on reimagining local news infrastructure at the MacArthur Foundation - Susy Schultz on creating investigative tools to dismantle systemic racism in media - Tracy Baim on the LGBTQ+ press, legacy media preservation, and Press Forward Chicago Links and Resources - Public Narrative: www.publicnarrative.org - Press Forward Chicago: www.cct.org/pressforward - MacArthur Foundation: www.macfound.org - Investigative Project on Race and Equity: www.raceandequityproject.org If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.

People in this episode

Guests: Jhmira Alexander, Silvia Rivera, Susy Schultz, Tracy Baim

Topics covered

• journalism
• media
• community-centered journalism
• equity-driven journalism
• misinformation

Keywords

• legacy news models
• systemic racism
• local news infrastructure
• LGBTQ+ press

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Public Narrative, Press Forward Chicago, MacArthur Foundation, Investigative Project on Race and Equity

Books & works: News at the Crossroads, Gathering Ground

More episodes of Gathering Ground

• Episode 86: The Power of Survivors: Art, Advocacy and the Fight to End Gender-based Violence · April 23, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Episode 85: Leading from the Inside Out: Rockwood Leadership Institute at 25 · March 25, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Episode 84: Funding Justice: Community Power and the Future of Philanthropy · March 12, 2026 · 1h 18m
• Episode 83: Burn It Down or Build It Better? Reckoning with Power in the Nonprofit Sector · February 19, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Episode 82: State by State: The Ongoing Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights · January 29, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Episode 81: Who Gets to Stay: Land, Memory, and Belonging in a Changing City · January 14, 2026 · 1h 10m

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