Springing forward with NDNC
As I’m writing this, my window is open and it’s a balmy 40 degrees outside. March 1 marked the start of meteorological spring, and I definitely have spring fever. While winter begins to loosen its grip across North Dakota, we’re reminded that spring is a season of renewal. For the North Dakota News Cooperative, that renewal means continuing the work of strengthening local journalism and ensuring communities across the state have access to trustworthy reporting.
First, a look at the progress we’ve already made as winter wraps up.
In February, we expanded our daily news coverage by beginning to include selected reporting from our partners at the Rural News Network. The Rural News Network is a national collaboration of more than 85 nonprofit news organizations working to strengthen reporting on rural issues. By sharing stories across this network, we are able to bring more reporting about rural communities to North Dakota readers while also helping ensure that stories from our region reach audiences across the country.
Some of the stories we shared include Ag producers in worst 3-month cost-price gap since 2015 new USDA data shows, as well as Midwest and Southwest states see major increase in temporary H-2A workers, despite slow growth in program, and Reserves of critical minerals driving mining interest in SD.
We also expanded our Fact Briefs by sharing briefs from our Gigafact partners, bringing clear, concise answers to questions circulating in the news and online. Recent briefs addressed questions such as whether the setting of interest rates depends solely on the Federal Reserve chair and whether the United States has more train tracks than any other country.
At the same time, we continued producing Fact Briefs focused on North Dakota, answering questions such as whether it is legal to lower the minimum wage in North Dakota and whether a wind farm in Bowman County is helping make Cambridge, Massachusetts’ municipal electricity carbon neutral.
Michael continued his outstanding reporting with articles like New food guidelines take a bite out of public schools and Lost WW2 sailor may finally return to North Dakota. These stories are just a small sample of the reporting NDNC is producing and sharing with readers across the state.
Spring is also a time when we look ahead. We’re continuing to build partnerships, expand our reporting capacity, and explore new ways to deliver journalism that serves North Dakota communities.
Thank you for supporting the North Dakota News Cooperative and helping ensure that strong local journalism remains part of the fabric of our state.
Sabrina Halvorson
CEO, North Dakota News Cooperative
Support independent journalism that puts North Dakota’s communities first. Your donation to the North Dakota News Cooperative helps us deliver in-depth reporting on the issues that matter most.
The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state. For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org. Send comments, suggestions or tips to michael@newscoopnd.org. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDNewsCoop.
