Working together for our communities

I don’t know if it’s all the colors around us, the changing weather, or the promise of cozy days ahead, but to me, fall is all about home. It always makes me appreciate the communities we call home and the people who put their time and care into making them better. I’ve been thinking about that lately, because NDNC began with people who saw a need in their communities and decided to do something about it.

The North Dakota News Cooperative began as a grassroots effort. A group of people with deep roots in North Dakota’s newspapers saw a challenge: local newsrooms were stretched thin, and important stories needed more time and attention than many could spare. They wanted to help, for the benefit of communities across the state.

That purpose sets NDNC apart from other news organizations in North Dakota. We were created specifically to help fill those reporting gaps and strengthen local newspapers by providing independent, in-depth journalism free of charge.

But turning an idea into an ongoing service takes more than good intentions. It takes people like you.

Your support helps us spend time asking questions, listening to residents and explaining issues that affect their daily lives. Here are a few examples from September:

Helping families understand concussions. Michael Standaert’s reporting on youth sports examined progress in concussion awareness and the gaps that remain, particularly in rural communities and smaller schools. Two episodes of The Backstory explored what parents and coaches should watch for with Dr. Torsten Rotto and questions about recovery and longer-term effects with Dr. Jessie Oldham.

Explaining what’s happening in our schools. We reported on delays in the state’s latest math and English proficiency data, and dug into the testing issues and new benchmarks that complicate comparisons with earlier results. We also examined potential changes to federal funding that could leave North Dakota schools facing substantial costs for internet service and network equipment.

Following the questions surrounding data centers. As development accelerates, residents want to understand what these projects could mean for their communities. Our statewide reporting explored questions about water, electricity, jobs, tax revenue and public input. We continued that coverage in early October with a Backstory conversation with Dr. Xiaofan Liang about who pays, who decides and who benefits.

These stories reflect why NDNC was created: to give North Dakotans reliable information about the decisions and changes affecting their communities. Your donations make that work possible.

Looking ahead, NewsMatch begins November 1. This matching-gift campaign gives us an opportunity to double your support of North Dakota journalism by matching eligible donations throughout November and December. We’ll share more about our campaign and how you can participate as the launch approaches.

Thank you for being part of this grassroots effort. Whether you give, share our reporting or tell someone about NDNC, you help keep it growing and serving communities across North Dakota, this wonderful place we all call home.

With gratitude,

Sabrina Halvorson

CEO, North Dakota News Cooperative