Name: Celina Jepsen Faerch

University: The University of Hong Kong

Host Organization/charity: Tortoise Media (London, UK)

Project title: Diversifying the Newsroom

Subtitle: Community Network Engagement and Expansion

Summary: In an age of misinformation, a political polarization, information overload and media is becoming ever harder to navigate, it has never been more important to create inclusive and diverse newsrooms. Not everyone can afford to pay for quality journalism. And many disadvantaged communities have too often had stories written about them rather than in conversation with them. As a news startup, Tortoise wants to create a newsroom that everyone can access and where everyone feels included in the conversation. The Community Network at Tortoise does that by offering pro-bono premium memberships to charities and the people they serve.  In the 6-week project I will work with the community network team to 1) strategically expand the network to reach more charities and underserved people 2) engage the existing community partners, making sure their voices are present in the newsroom and listened to.

Objectives:

• Identify charities working with disadvantaged communities
• Reach out to these organisations to arrange introductory calls
• Communicate [1]Community Network benefits to charities
• Secure Community Network partnerships
• Onboard new partners into the Network
• Build and maintain charity partnership relations, ensuring that their voices are represented in the newsroom, and their stories are listened to.

I look very much forward to starting my leadership-in-action journey at Tortoise!

[1] Community Network partners at Tortoise refers to non-profit organisations and charities. Among other services, we provide pro bono Tortoise memberships to the people they serve.