Episode #3, in which Josh Stearns explores the role of journalism in fostering civic engagement. Josh and Hildy discuss the need for bottom-up approaches to change, the challenges facing local news, and the need to rethink journalism to build stronger communities.

Josh Stearns is the Senior Director of the Public Square Program at Democracy Fund. Josh leads the foundation’s efforts to support transformative leaders who are rebuilding local news, advancing more equitable journalism, defending civil rights online, and holding social media platforms accountable for their impact on our democracy and society. Josh joined the Democracy Fund from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where he served as the Director of Journalism and Sustainability and worked to support and expand community engagement in local news and develop new business models for journalism.

Josh is a co-founder of the Local News Lab, First Draft News and the Freedom of the Press Foundation and currently on the board of the Democratizing Philanthropy Project and Honolulu Civil Beat. His articles have appeared in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Guardian, Columbia Journalism Review, Orion Magazine and more. When not at his desk he tries to keep his hands dirty at the pottery wheel or can be found taking pictures in the woods of Western Massachusetts.

To connect with Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcstearns/