The Neighborhood Newswire is a non-profit initiative that provides high-quality articles about local issues to small newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Launched by San Francisco Community Power in November 2004, the Newswire fills in gaps in coverage of important news stories, improving the quality of journalism at neighborhood publications as a means to support community engagement in public dialogues. The Newswire seeks to create a new model for community journalism that can be replicated nationwide.

With the increasing consolidation of the media industry, small independent community newspapers are facing serious financial challenges. As these community voices struggle for survival, they have fewer resources to devote to covering important issues, particularly policy activity at the local government level and basic neighborhood news. The coverage that is provided tends to be inconsistent, and frequently does not “scratch beneath the surface” to identify long-term challenges. As a result, many Americans are poorly informed about the issues that directly impact their communities. At the local level, where individual voices have the most potential to effect real change, many citizens’ knowledge and understanding of important issues is simply inadequate.

More than 30 independent newspapers are published in San Francisco, reaching upwards of 500,000 readers. Virtually all City neighborhoods – as well as many ethnic groups – have their own weekly or monthly publications. But these community resources tend to be small, poorly staffed and hard-pressed to develop in-depth, neutral stories on important issues. They do not have the resources to accomplish the high-quality journalism to which they aspire, and which their communities deserve.

The development and maintenance of vibrant communities depends on an informed, engaged citizenry who have active relationships with the places in which they live. Citizens need access to high-quality, trust-worthy information if they’re to effectively engage in public dialogues about complex policy issues. Without this information individuals have to rely on word-of-mouth; may be dependent on “education” campaigns sponsored by special interests with specific agendas; or remain substantially ignorant about important issues facing their community. An active and independent media is essential to a vibrant democracy. The Neighborhood Newswire seeks to support community media outlets by providing well-researched, objective articles, ready for publication.

The Neighborhood Newswire is a project of San Francisco Community Power. SF Community Power was founded as a non-profit organization in 2001 to help low-income families and small businesses better manage their energy use. The organization has trained and hired more than 30 low income individuals to install energy saving devices in businesses and homes; distributed more than 10,000 energy-efficient light bulbs, 4,000 energy-saving light sensors and 300 energy efficient refrigerators; implemented a longitudinal survey on civic engagement in southeast San Francisco; and is leading community-based efforts to close polluting power plants in the City.

Neighborhood Newswire is managed by existing SF Power staff, with an advisory board that includes a Los Angeles Times reporter; National Public Radio producer; and a small newspaper publisher. Articles are written and edited by experienced free-lance reporters.