Your Impact on Journalism in North Dakota: Here’s What You Made Possible
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for standing with us in our mission to deliver reliable, relevant, and real journalism for North Dakota. At the North Dakota News Cooperative, we are committed to providing in-depth reporting on the issues that shape our communities, from public health and education to the state’s political landscape. Your support powers this essential work, and we’re excited to share just a few recent highlights.
In the past few weeks, our newsroom has been hard at work covering stories that matter: We’ve reported on the resurgence of measles in North Dakota amid declining vaccination rates, investigated how federal budget cuts are affecting local programs, and brought attention to the challenges facing rural journalism.
Meanwhile, our leadership has been actively engaging with the public to champion press freedom. On May 5, I had the privilege of joining Dina Butcher in a moving conversation about democracy and the role of journalism in protecting democratic values. The evening was hosted by the Kennedy Memorial Center in Bismarck, and it was a powerful reminder of why our mission matters.
In June, I'll be speaking at two events. I'll be discussing media literacy at a community event in Park Rapids, MN. Following that, I'll be at the League of Women Voters for the Fargo/Moorhead area where I'll discuss the role of the press in upholding democracy. If you have a group that's interested in a speaker on these or similar topics, please feel free to email me at sabrina@newscoopnd.org.
We were thrilled to celebrate a major milestone for our organization: Jill Denning Gackle, NDNC’s founding co-chair, was inducted into the North Dakota Newspaper Association’s Hall of Fame. Her dedication to the integrity and future of local journalism has helped shape the very foundation of our nonprofit.
It was an honor to attend the event alongside our other founding co-chair, and NDNA Hall of Famer, Steve Andrist. These recognitions are a testament to the leadership and passion behind NDNC, and we’re proud to carry their vision forward.
We’re also proud to announce the launch of our new podcast, The Backstory. Available on your favorite podcast app and airing Thursdays and Saturdays on KUAK FM 102.5 in Bismarck, The Backstory pulls back the curtain on the journalistic process. It’s part reporting, part media literacy and all designed to inform listeners about the issues we cover while helping them better understand how news is gathered, verified, and presented. This initiative expands our reach and deepens our impact.
Finally, last week I attended a webinar featuring media scholar Victor Pickard. One statement in particular stood out, and I wanted to share it with you:
“We’re in a golden age of nonprofit media…and that can give us hope for the future of journalism in the U.S.”
If you believe in the value of strong local journalism and a well-informed public, we welcome your continued investment in our work. Your financial support makes independent, public-service reporting possible, and ensures that voices across North Dakota continue to be heard. Please consider making a donation today. Every contribution helps us do more, dig deeper, and serve our communities better.
With gratitude,
Sabrina Halvorson
CEO, North Dakota News Cooperative