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This article was originally published in Médianes' 10 Links newsletter, sent every other Monday at 2 pm. Sign up here (for free).
- GUIDE (GIJN) — Before you can even evaluate your impact, you first need to define it. An essential starting point, especially since it varies greatly depending on newsrooms, formats, and audiences. A few tips to better understand what it's all about.
- METHOD (Nieman Lab and Médianes) — Yes, measuring impact is an exercise that requires time, rigor, and resources. But don't panic, it's not reserved for large newsrooms. In the United States, several small nonprofit local news outlets — for whom success isn't limited to audience size — share their concrete methods here.
- METHOD (CJR) — You've noticed it: measuring impact sometimes involves numbers, charts, and calculations… Elements that aren't always popular in newsrooms and that sometimes spark — rightfully so — some skepticism. Yet, when used properly, this practice can truly serve the production and distribution of public interest journalism.
- CASE STUDY (CJR) — Site statistics alone are no longer enough when audiences are also getting information through newsletters, social media, and beyond. The 19th adopted a more holistic approach, Total Journalism Reach, which includes metrics like Instagram views where the outlet shares article excerpts.
- METHOD (Journalism.co.uk) — Impact isn't just about numbers. But how do you measure something as subjective and variable as this? Dutch public broadcaster NPO uses the Public Method, a visual tool shaped like a rosette—and even like playing cards—that helps teams identify the needs they want to address: knowing, understanding, acting…
- TOOL (The Markup) — Once you've defined what you want to measure… how do you go about it in practice? The tech publication The Markup shares the tracking dashboard their teams use on AirTable. Even if you don't use this software, you can easily use it as inspiration to build your own.
- TOOL (Impact Architects) — The Impact Architects team supports media outlets and NGOs in defining and tracking their impact. Their site is packed with recommendations and useful resources, including a free impact tracking tool, which you can adapt to your newsroom's needs.
- ADVICE (Chalkbeat) — The education media outlet Chalkbeat explains how it measures and demonstrates its impact through a structured approach. Among its recommendations: "Think about the metrics that work for your organization and don't hesitate to create new ones ".
- METHOD (Rewind) — Convinced of the value of measuring impact in your newsroom? Why not designate a dedicated person for this mission? Rewind explains how creating an impact lead role can improve the clarity, consistency, and visibility of your actions.
P.S.: Rembobine has launched a vertical dedicated to impact and is organizing a festival on the subject with Disclose on September 19th!
- IDEAS (Mediapart and Contexte) — What if you went beyond editorial impact? Mediapart publishes its carbon footprint, to document its environmental progress, and Contexte structures its 2024 report around three pillars: democratic, human, and environmental.
P.S.: On our end, we also tried the exercise — looking back at what we've built since 2020, across our media, consulting studio, and network.
