Model and Strategy
A year ago, California touted a record $21 billion surplus. Now the pandemic is eating our savings and causing unimaginable pain. Unemployment is at record highs. The school year is chaotic. Turmoil reigns, from health care to criminal justice to fires and the environment.
In a state that had America’s highest poverty rates even before the pandemic, people struggle to pay for shelter and food even if they’re employed. Four of every 10 live in poverty or on the brink.
A year ago, we designed and launched a new collaborative reporting model. Our California Divide team includes local reporters across the state, plus our economy and health care beat reporters, our Commentary editor and events team. We asked them to examine systemic equity issues and solutions and what it will take to rebuild our powerhouse economy into one that lifts all Californians.
Our vision goes beyond stories written and shared. We’ll use multiple media formats and direct engagement to serve diverse audiences statewide. We’ll help them navigate the current crises while making all Californians – and especially those in power who can shape new policy – fully aware of the problems and potential solutions.
Impact
Millions of Californians – regular citizens, advocates, activists and policymakers – will be better informed about, and understand, what has contributed to the growing divide in our state, the policy discussions underway to address the issues, and what our government is doing about them.
There will be increased civic engagement among Californians living in or near poverty, and among those who can help, with broader awareness of the challenges and potential solutions.
Our virtual events, town halls and commentary will have enlightened Californians with fresh insights and perspectives from a variety of voices who haven’t been heard before on the crucial question that Battery Powered posed: “How can we support pandemic recovery while rebuilding a more inclusive and resilient economy?”
Our work will have helped to shape and influence the policies and spur new laws.
We will have proved the value of a promising new media collaboration model funded in partnership with foundations, major donors and individual members who believe in the mission. We’ll show that state news nonprofits like CalMatters can make a real difference with embedded reporters working in the newsrooms of local media partners, reporting on poverty and equity in their communities. Our model will showcase the value that local reporters can make by reporting on a wide variety of statewide challenges. There will be positive, measurable, return on the investment for funders and there will be a successful, replicable funding model to support state and local journalism and informed communities in our nation.
Leadership
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Dave Lesher
Co-Founder & Editor
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Judy Lin
Editor, California Divide