Two 'insightful' podcasts ask: How is the Inland Empire a 'news mirage,' and what can be done?

In conversations with Inland Insight and Education Insight, we discuss both the challenges confronting Inland Empire journalism and the developments afoot to revitalize it.

On August 30, 2024, I published an article on Inland Empire MediaWatch titled, “California’s Inland Empire is a news mirage.” In it, I argued that our large, diverse, and rapidly growing region appears to have more substantive local news than it actually does. I also noted that grassroots cooperation and philanthropic and policy interventions could help revitalize and transform local journalism in the IE.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss the region’s local journalism on two local talk shows: Inland Insight and Education Insight. So, I wanted to share those conversations here. I hope you find them as as “insightful” as the shows’ names suggest.

Inland Insight is a podcast hosted by Manny Sandoval and Denise Berger, co-owners and publishers of Inland Empire Community News. In our conversation, we discuss a range of topics, including the distinction between news deserts and mirages, our region’s duplicative dailies and lack of dedicated local TV news, the role of “churnalism” in enabling Amazon’s corporate propaganda, social media sensationalism and misinformation, and “pink slime” websites. We also talk about the launch of the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund and the promise of cooperative journalism.

Note: There are audio issues during our discussion of policy interventions from 31-34 mins; feel free to skip.

Education Insight is a radio show and podcast produced by Growing Inland Achievement and KVCR 91.9. The show, which focuses on education in the Inland Empire, is normally hosted by CSUSB’s own Lacey Kendall. In this episode, I talk with Education Insight producer Alyssa Silva about the IE’s news mirage dynamics, including its duplicative dailies, lack of local TV news, and churnalism. However, we also discuss CSUSB’s new Local Journalism Partnerships Initiative, which I coordinate. This faculty- and student-run initiative seeks to support and expand high-quality civic and community journalism in the Inland Empire and develop the next generation of talented homegrown media professions.

What do you think? Is the IE a “news mirage?” And, if so, what should be done? Please drop a comment below.