When mission aligns with tools | Help Desk Monthly

We all know what tools are. They help us do our jobs. Sometimes they make the work easier, other times they are necessary. No matter what, they serve a functional purpose.

In the news industry, journalists are usually juggling a lot at once, so tools are often a way to increase productivity. And while doing more with less is a reality of this business, I want to encourage you to think differently.

Think of tools as partners in the overall mission.

Our case study on 404 Media is a great example of when a tool and a publisher’s values align — and how that can help lead to sustainability.

When the technology-focused investigative reporting outlet launched in 2023, they had a vision for what they wanted to create and almost no funding.

404 Media needed a content management system for publishing stories online, a way to collect and send emails, process payments, manage subscribers and paywall content. They needed it all quickly, but they didn’t want to invest in a restrictive or unpredictable platform that would make it more difficult to truly own their site and content.

Ghost, a nonprofit organization that made open-source tools for web publishing, fit the founders’ needs. The platform gave 404 Media easy-to-use and effective tools at a price point they could afford, and Ghost offered concrete assurances that 404 could control their own site.

Ghost’s platform checked the boxes of 404’s needs and the tool’s open-source nature aligned with the outlet’s values. Just a year after launch, 404 Media announced it was profitable.

When we created our Scorecard database of tools, we had stories like this in mind. We worked to create a rubric that would align with a wide variety of news businesses’ values, asking questions that ranged from how quickly a transcription tool transcribes to which third-party platforms it integrates with.

Our goal was to make it easier for people working in the news industry to move from looking for tools to finding and using mission-aligned tools swiftly.

There are four groups of tools live now — analytics, content production, fundraising and transcription — and we’re hard at work on the next batches. Until then, tell us what you think of the Scorecard. Maybe even compare a few tools that pique your interest.

Tell us what questions are missing and what tool groups you’re eager for us to add. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Leah Becerra, Product Director at News Media Help Desk

Now, some inspiration

Other resources worth your time

We heard you — or someone you know — might be navigating change. Here are some helpful links.

The early career guide to newsroom success by Rachel Lobdell
You’ve been hired by a newsroom—congratulations! This guide is here to help you have the best chance at success. (See the guide here 🔗)

Quick tips on conducting effective one-on-one meetings by Emily Ristow
Research shows that effective one-on-one meetings benefit managers and their direct reports alike. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls. (Read them here 🔗)

Freelance quick-start guide by Katherine Reynolds Lewis
Learn to get up and running as a freelancer. Prioritize the most important steps to take. Craft a durable strategy. (See the guide here 🔗)

The laid off to launch toolkit for journalists by News Revenue Hub
Designed to support journalists in the immediate aftermath of a layoff, this guide is also helpful for those who voluntarily decide to leave an unfulfilling job or pursue a new path. (See the guide here 🔗)

Looking ahead 👀

Members of the Help Desk team will be attending multiple conferences over the next few months. If you’ll be attending any of them, find us or send us a note so we can look for you.

Here’s where we’ll be:

• Knight Media Forum 📍Miami, Florida
• NICAR📍Indianapolis, Indiana
• ONA📍Chicago
• Mega Conference📍Austin, Texas

Until next time, catch us on these social channels:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Bluesky

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