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Richmond Confidential announces partnership with The Globe

on March 24, 2010

The Globe of Richmond and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism have more in common than may meet the eye.

Both are committed to solid journalism; both are headed by leaders who seek to aggressively adapt to a challenging media landscape.

And both are growing in their roles as news-providers to Richmond residents.

The Richmond Globe and Richmondconfidential.org, a grant-funded “hyperlocal” news Web site founded at UC Berkeley, have agreed to enter into a partnership to provide Richmond readers enhanced news coverage.

The collaboration will include sharing information and content, as well as cross-linking each publication’s Web sites. In addition, the partnership will bring Globe staffers and Berkeley students and professors into a working relationship in which they share ideas and strategies for news reporting in Richmond, Globe publisher Vernon Whitmore said.

The Globe is hopeful and proud about this partnership,” Whitmore said. “We are impressed with what Berkeley’s program has done and what it aspires to do, and we are excited to work with the journalists of tomorrow.”

The Globe will publish selected Richmondconfidential.org articles in its printed newspaper.

The weekly Globe has been a steady presence in Richmond since Whitmore founded it in 2004. Its formula of community news, targeted distribution and uplifting tone has fueled a circulation increase to 25,000 copies and a surge in advertising dollars this year, Whitmore said.

Richmondconfidential.org is a news Web site launched in October by UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, with the help of a $500,000 Ford Foundation grant aimed at digital news innovations. The grant also funds the school’s Oaklandnorth.net and Missionlocal.org sites, which provide coverage in Oakland and San Francisco.

The grant specifically targets communities underserved by private media, according to the journalism school Dean Neil Henry.

William Drummond, the professor of journalism who oversaw the launch of Richmondconfidential.org, said the partnership should benefit residents and both news outlets.

The Globe reaches places where Richmondconfidential.org does not,” Drummond wrote in a response to an email inquiry. Drummond added that The Globe will benefit from the additional content provided by Berkeley-trained student journalists.

“(It) should be a win-win situation,” Drummond added. “It’s a collaboration that makes sense.”

Richmondconfidential.org launched with more than a dozen full-time student-journalists last fall. To date, the site has published more than 300 story packages, including maps, videos, photo-galleries and interactive features. Coverage has spanned a range of issues, particularly local politics, grassroots anti-crime and revitalization efforts, and the city’s diverse population.

The staff has shrunk considerably during the spring semester, but will get a fresh infusion of students in August.

Drummond said the partnership will also lend the young, Berkeley-based Web site more credibility.

“None of us live in Richmond,” Drummond wrote. “That means that Richmondconfidential.org appears to be on the outside looking in. Partnering with The Globe removes this impression.”

4 Comments

  1. Councilman Nat Bates on March 24, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Excellent partnership in which both will benefit. It is nice to have two newsmedia serving the City of Richmond in such a positive and professional manner. Congratulations and I offer my services in any manner that will enhance your success.

    Richmond City Councilmamber Nat Bates, Senior Member of the Council



  2. Jim Rogers on March 24, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Truly a win-win partnership, the most important winners being the people of Richmond who will benefit from the more thorough coverage.
    The student journalists are excellent and Vernon Whitmore has once again raised the bar in terms of providing truly local coverage.

    Jim Rogers
    Richmond Councilmember



  3. Jeff Ritterman on March 24, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    How wonderful. Thank you Vern for continuing to serve our community and for your positive vision of Richmond. Thank you Richmond Confidential for helping to focus attention on our city. You made a great choice in partnering with The Globe under Vern Whitmore’s leadership.

    In partnership,
    Jeff Ritterman
    Vice Mayor



  4. Mike Ali Raccoon Eyes Kinney on March 24, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Reporter Roger Roberts is a fine asset and young media professional report who truly proved that real news is finally being covered in the City of Richmond. Finally our community has entered the 21st Century with excellent comunity coverage! Thank you, Roger.

    Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney
    Editor of TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE



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Richmond Confidential

Richmond Confidential is an online news service produced by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for, and about, the people of Richmond, California. Our goal is to produce professional and engaging journalism that is useful for the citizens of the city.

Please send news tips to richconstaff@gmail.com.

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