Scott Lewis: Journalism, Democracy, and the Future of San Diego

About this episode

Scott Lewis discusses the role of local journalism in democracy and community challenges.

Scott Lewis is CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Voice of San Diego , the pioneering nonprofit newsroom he helped build nearly two decades ago. What began as an experiment in funding professional journalism outside of the old newspaper model is now a national template, proving that communities can sustain independent, fact-driven reporting. Scott is known for his candid, conversational style and his conviction that journalism is about creating a shared story that helps communities face hard truths and imagine better futures. This Episode: What role does local journalism play in sustaining democracy and helping communities rise to their challenges? In this thought-provoking conversation, Scott and Grant trace the story of Voice of San Diego from its early days as a bold experiment to its present role covering the region’s toughest issues—from homelessness and housing to infrastructure, schools, and civic leadership. They explore how journalism can cut through partisanship and apathy by telling stories that matter, how San Diego’s unique civic culture shapes progress (and stalls it), and why shared stories are essential to purpose and belonging. Scott also reflects on the responsibility…

People in this episode

Host: Grant Oliphant

Guest: Scott Lewis

Topics covered

• local journalism
• democracy
• community engagement
• nonprofit media
• fact-driven reporting

Keywords

• journalism
• democracy
• San Diego
• nonprofit newsroom
• community stories
• local media
• fact-driven reporting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Voice of San Diego

Places: San Diego

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