The GroundTruth Project

Over the past 10 days, climate scientists, activists, and journalists from around the globe gathered in Azerbaijan for the 29th annual Conference of the Parties (COP29), discussing how nations can collaborate to reduce emissions and protect communities impacted by climate change. To capture the themes and atmosphere of the conference, Charles Sennott spoke with Inside Climate News journalist Bob Berwyn, who offered his perspective on the progress made and the challenges ahead from the floor of the conference, particularly with the rise of authoritarian leaders and the spread of climate disinformation from polluters. “Each time I come to COP... I feel uplifted that there are thousands of people from around the world... who have just so much compassion and empathy in their hearts that they’re willing to take the time to come to a thing like this and talk with each other and work on this and try to find a solution,” Berwyn told GroundTruth. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ekHzeimF #climatechange #cop29 #cliamtereporting #localjournalism #journalism #globalwarming #climatejournalist #bako #science

Our founder Charles Sennott was at the 40th anniversary of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) gathering, listening to a panel on the consequences of the election of Donald Trump for journalism, featuring White House correspondents Peter Baker and Eugene Daniels II, and Nobel peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa “Whether we can save democracy - or not - depends on you, what you do today. What we collectively do today matters, Ressa told a crowd of international and local journalists. In our newsletter this week, Sennott highlights the lessons shared by Ressa on how to navigate a strongman government, as he reflects on the role of journalism during the next four years. https://lnkd.in/esP3Sb4Y #trump #freespeech #pressfreedom #journalism #localnews

Last week’s election had more than just the presidential election on the ballot. There were thousands of races across the country, including 468 seats in Congress, and thousands of local and state government positions. The fate of the country for the foreseeable future was determined as voters decided which party – Republican or Democrat – would control two major branches of government. Our Report for America corps members have been reporting on the outcomes of these races as well as their implications for their communities, offering a window into the direction some key issues might take on the national stage in the next four years. https://lnkd.in/dBmegGfD #election #results #localnews #localreporting #politicalreporting #journalism

With Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, it is very likely that journalism—and the truth—will be under attack for another four years, given his longstanding, wanton attacks on journalism and the press. During this pivotal moment in history, GroundTruth founder Charles Sennott reflects on how America as a nation has to ask itself some hard questions and find a way forward if it wants to mend its deep divisions. And how the City of Austin, Texas, might be a good example of where to start. #trump #election #austin #texas #journalism #democracy https://lnkd.in/eUka6qGP

Happy Veteran's Day! Today, we honor our service members, who put their lives on the line in service for our country and who continue to be beacons of hope in each of our communities. Snapshots from Report for America corps member Mariah Thomas for Ashland Source during their 11th annual Veterans Appreciation Day https://lnkd.in/ePjwXFFa #veteransday #veterans #military #photos #photojournalism #localnews

We are hiring! The GroundTruth Project is looking for a dynamic and visionary Chief Development Officer (CDO) to join our executive leadership team. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CDO will drive fundraising efforts, build meaningful partnerships, and amplify GroundTruth’s impact worldwide. https://lnkd.in/eNv_FqqM #jobs #journalismjobs #hiring #cdo #localnews #newsrooms

Last weekend, a small earthquake with an intensity of 2.8 on the Richter scale reminded the communities along the Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri border of the importance of preparing for a quake. In July, 500 people, including local emergency responders, military responders, hospitals, and volunteer firefighters, participated in a three-day drill scenario at a Saint Louis mall that simulated an 8.4 magnitude earthquake along the Midwest’s New Madrid Seismic Fault. In 1812, the region experienced one of the most destructive earthquakes in history, between 7 and 8 of magnitude, and there are hundreds of minor quakes that occur every year. Now, scientists and officials believe it's only a matter of time before the next big one. For KMOV-TV First Alert 4, Report for America corps member Avery Martinez emphasizes the risk the projected earthquake of high magnitude poses for the densely populated and developed areas of the Midwest, and how residents should prepare. https://lnkd.in/e8WEbY6D #earthquake #Tennessee #Kentucky #Missouri #climatechange #environmentnews #localnews #groundtruth #media #journalism #midwest #earth

Tonight, millions of Americans will seek credible sources for election results, including Report for America newsroom partners. From national organizations like The Associated Press to local media outlets, journalists across the country will be working around the clock to report the results as they come in. However, the threat of misinformation from this election, similar to 2020, is rising and news outlets are gearing up to counter falsehoods that may arise after polls close. Poynter Institute has gathered some of the most common falsehoods and explained how they could impact viewers’ perception of the election. https://lnkd.in/ejNwnaHi #election2024 #electionday #vote #misinformation #falsehoods #journalists

As Election Day looms, the future of democracy and journalism hangs in the balance. This election cycle has seen candidates make their pitches, protests break out over international conflicts, unexpected campaign exits, and a flood of misinformation—all of which complicate voters’ ability to make informed decisions. Through it all, our storymap editor, Alana Campbell, has curated a powerful map highlighting the local reporting of our Report for America corps members. From the primaries and debates to the final campaign pushes, these stories capture the critical role of local journalism during elections and underscore the importance of voting not just on the national stage, but in local communities as well. #election #localnews #journalism #media #vote #localjournalism #localreporting #savelocalnews https://lnkd.in/ekPgEgFd

This election could be decided by just a few swing states and just a couple of thousands of votes within those states. Our founder, Charles Sennott, was on the ground in Dearborn, Michigan, where thousands of Arab Americans and Muslims are angry over the Biden/Harris administration's handling of the war in Gaza, which has killed 43,000 people, many of whom are family members of these voters. “Against that complex and emotional backdrop of war and all the layers of history that lies behind it, the Harris campaign has recently reached out to this Arab community and not a minute too late. Canvassers here find themselves stressing that Harris has called for a ceasefire since August and has publicly supported the right of Palestinians to self-determination in a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump has never voiced support for a ceasefire or a Palestinian state,” Sennott writes in his column this week.    Learn more by reading this week’s GroundTruth Weekly: https://lnkd.in/etkcva7X #arabamericans #election #trump #politics #localnews #journalism #media #vote #dearborn #michigan