Indigenous News Accelerator

The program builds on Medill’s Local News Accelerator, which works with local news organizations on audience, business and organizational challenges. IJA is bringing that model into an Indigenous media context, creating a cohort where newsrooms can learn from one another while developing strategies tailored to their own communities and organizations.

Indigenous-focused news organizations play an essential role in keeping communities informed and helping citizens of Native nations understand government actions at the tribal, local and federal levels. They also connect Indigenous people with their communities while providing a platform for Indigenous storytelling and media to thrive. 

IJA is investing in the accelerator because these newsrooms deserve access to research, tools and a network that will support their sustainability and growth. This work reflects IJA’s broader commitment to strengthening Indigenous media and investing in the organizations that serve Native communities. 

During the program participating newsrooms will:

• Engage in customized audience or consumer research designed around their specific questions and goals
• Receive one-on-one consulting from Northwestern experts and affiliates to help in interpreting and applying research that is gathered in alignment with Indigenous research methods
• Engage in peer learning with other Indigenous news organizations
• Develop a practical plan to turn research and insights into action. Newsrooms will get their plans scoped and under way in the summer, and will continue to carry them out after this program wraps up at the end of July.

IJA expects to select five to six Indigenous-focused news organizations. For purposes of the accelerator, IJA considers a news organization Indigenous-focused when its editorial work serves, reflects or centers Native communities and people.

We are hoping to assemble a diverse cohort that includes a mix of: 

• Tribal media organizations
• Independent news startups
• Legacy news outlets
• Broadcasters

The program is designed for organizations with the capacity to participate and willingness to make the work involved a strategic priority for 2027. 

The program will blend virtual and in-person training. Below is an overview of how we currently expect the program to unfold: 

• January: The program begins with a virtual kickoff. Meanwhile, Medill begins work with each newsroom to hone goals and develop a plan for audience research. 
• February: Cohort gathers for the first time in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the end of the month. 
• February-May: The Medill team will work with each newsroom virtually and in-person via community visits to their communities – to conceptualize, launch and apply the research. Medill will assist newsrooms in interpreting the research and develop practical strategies. 

• May or June: Potential cohort gathering and training in Chicago; details to be confirmed. This gathering likely will serve three purposes:
  • Networking among fellow Indigenous news leaders.
  • Peer learning opportunities within the Indigenous News Accelerator cohort and with other active Medill accelerator cohorts.
  • Seminar for IJA cohort to solidify the connection between research results and plans for revenue and/or audience growth.
• July: Additional opportunity for cohort participation and peer learning during IJA’s Indigenous Media Conference in Minneapolis (July 29-31). 
• Beyond July: Participating organizations pursue plans for revenue and/or audience growth after the formal IJA program ends. 

In addition, the cohort will gather monthly for virtual sessions to learn from industry experts and/or share experiences, challenges and ideas. The goal is to create a peer network that extends beyond the program itself. Individual check-ins will also happen as needed. 

The expected commitment is approximately 10 hours per month for the newsroom as a whole, plus time needed to complete agreed-upon research activities. IJA will provide selected participants with additional information about travel and logistics for in-person events. 

By the end of the program, participating newsrooms will have developed tools and strategies they can continue using after the cohort ends, including:

• A research-based roadmap for growth
• Audience research skills
• A network of Indigenous news peers

The newsrooms will use these resources to execute the plans for revenue and/or audience growth after the program ends. 

Your newsroom may be a good fit if you:

• can designate a project lead who will serve as the primary point of contact with IJA and Medill.
• can commit approximately 10 hours per month as a newsroom.
• have a specific audience, business, product, growth or organizational challenge to work on.
• can participate in the research process and meet agreed-upon deadlines.
• want to learn from and share knowledge with other Indigenous news organizations.
• are prepared to consider changes based on research findings and new information.

A newsroom’s strategic goal might include: 1) reaching younger audiences or a new geographic area 2) launching or strengthening a newsletter or another online product 3) developing a strategy for a revenue stream through advertising, membership or donor marketing, or philanthropic fundraising. These are just a few examples. We know newsrooms have different needs and challenges, and there may be other goals to explore. 

The Indigenous News Accelerator builds on Medill’s experience working directly with local news organizations on audience and business challenges in the Chicago area. This section includes case studies from past cohorts. 

Chicago Public Media sought to develop new ways to connect with younger audiences, particularly those aged 16-24. The bespoke research provided by the LNA was fundamental to their revamped engagement strategy. The news organization built plans to focus on social-first vertical video and text messaging as key engagement strategies, which coincided with the 2024 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago. By the end of the six-month run, CPM achieved a 22% increase in young (18-24) social media audiences and gained 2,000 subscribers through their text messaging pilot.

Windy City Times has been devoted to being a voice for the city’s LGBTQ+ community since 1985. They came into the program to launch a newsletter that would serve as a one-stop shop for events in Chicago’s LGBTQ+ communities. By the end of the six-month accelerator program, they grew their newsletter to 4,893 subscribers with a 55% open rate. Their new Instagram account also gained 1,500 followers by the end of the program. More importantly, the WCT team mastered the tools they acquired through the LNA, and they still put them to use to this day. After the LNA, the team launched En La Vida and BlackLines, two newsletters focused on Chicago’s Latin and Black queer communities.

Chicago South Sider is a local newsletter startup founded in 2021 and solely operated by entrepreneur Charlene Rhinehart. She started working with the LNA in early 2025. Our tools, subject-matter expertise and outcome-focused processes helped her work on monetization. She now has more than 35,000 Substack readers. By the end of the program, the existing newsletter generated $7,500, more than double her initial goal of $3,000. Most importantly, Rhinehart now has the skills and confidence to seek new revenue sources continuously.

The inaugural Indigenous News Accelerator cohort begins in January 2027.

Applications are now open.

Apply here

Application deadline: Monday, November 09, 2026. 

Questions?

Mackenzie Warren
Executive Director, Medill Local News Initiative
mackenzie@northwestern.edu

Audrey Azzo
Program Coordinator, Medill Local News Accelerator
audrey.azzo@northwestern.edu

Mary Hudetz
IJA Director of Education and Training
mary@indigenousjournalists.org