WHYY News and Bridging Blocks host their second civic news conference to explore best practices for newsrooms to engage their communities in the practice of civic journalism. Prioritizing IRL initiatives that build connections for local communities has emerged as an audience strategy for WHYY and other local newsrooms. Learn about the impact of Bridging Blocks, a civic dialogue program made possible by the Sutherland Family and in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia. WHYY News staff will demonstrate civic debate and discuss how centering community members help fill news and information gaps. Panel discussions will feature journalists who practice civic news and provide insights into better practices.
Bridging Blocks is a civic engagement initiative between WHYY and The Free Library of Philadelphia that aims to bring together culturally and politically diverse households for conversation and understanding. Bridging Blocks is made possible by a generous grant from Fred and Barbara Sutherland.
Featured Panelists:
Candice Fortman is a community-centered leader and a current fellow in the John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University. Previously, she served as executive director of Outlier Media, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to delivering essential information to Detroit residents. Under her leadership, Outlier reimagined journalism as a responsive and sustainable public service designed to inform and empower communities. Before Outlier, Candice was the marketing and engagement manager at WDET 101.9, Detroit’s NPR station, where she strengthened audience connections and expanded the station’s reach. Her commitment to community-driven journalism extends beyond Detroit. She serves on the board of Cityside, the nonprofit behind Berkeleyside, Oaklandside, and Richmondside. Fortman provides advisory support to Baltimore Beat, a newsroom carrying forward the legacy of the Black press. Additionally, she is an advisory board member for OpenNews, which fosters collaboration between journalists and technologists. Candice was also a 2021 JSK Community Impact Fellow.
Rebecca Neuwirth has spent her career in nonprofits, focused on building volunteer communities, raising funds, communications and strategic partnerships. She has held leadership roles at Define American, Upwardly Global, and AJC; senior development positions at the Center for Popular Democracy and JDC; and ran a small foundation, Thanks To Scandinavia, where she currently serves on the Board. Rebecca is on the Advisory Board of the Jewish Studies Center at Baruch College and is helping to build a community garden in her neighborhood. She received an MA in Education from the Free University in Berlin, and a BA from Yale University.
To view the entire WHYY News Civic News Summit agenda, visit here. Remember to register for Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 individually on each registration page.
