Colorado journalists have a lot on their plates right now, covering the COVID-19 public health crisis in the midst of a volatile 2020 election season. And with fewer reporters than ever populating local newsrooms, we know that resources are stretched thin.
And yet the potential upside for collaboration and information sharing between trusted sources of local news is huge — it could even save lives.
That's why Colorado Media Project is excited to announce two journalism collaborations we’re supporting this year, and we hope you'll join us.
First, in partnership with First Draft News, a global nonprofit tackling information disorder, CMP will present Colorado 2020 Misinformation Watch. As one of five First Draft Fellows nationwide, local data journalist Sandra Fish will provide tips and training for Colorado journalists on tracking and countering viral, online misinformation about a range of topics – including COVID-19.
Colorado journalists can sign up now to join Colorado 2020 Misinformation Watch. Members of the network will gain access to a private, moderated Slack channel, and receive timely email updates directly from Fish on viral misinformation circulating in Colorado and the U.S. She’ll also offer training that includes tips and tools for journalists themselves to discover what Coloradans are seeing, and when and how to take action — and when it’s best to wait.
Second, in partnership with COLab and the Colorado Sun, CMP will present #FollowtheMoneyCO, an initiative to help journalists statewide track and report on money in politics this election season. As a 20+year veteran of campaign finance data-gathering and analysis, Fish also will serve as a centralized resource for all Colorado newsrooms and members of the public to access data and information about money and messages in politics.
By joining #FollowtheMoneyCO, journalists will receive state-level campaign finance data parsed and organized by Fish, as soon as its available. Fish will also conduct training for reporters on using that data in their reporting on the 2020 elections. The Colorado Sun will develop state-level stories with Fish to share with partners in the collaborative, and she’ll provide tips and training for ways that reporters across Colorado can localize those stories by using the data.
To join either — or both — of these FREE networks, please take five minutes to complete this form by March 31. Newsrooms are welcome join either network on a rolling basis, but Fish is already beginning to compile resources that we hope you will find immediately valuable. More on the nationwide First Draft News fellowship — managed by former CMP director Nancy Watzman — is here.
If you have additional questions, please reach out and let us know. We look forward to working with you, and doing what we can to connect newsrooms and communities across the state during these unprecedented times.