Hysteria How do we grow a progressive media ecosystem? (Crooked Con)
Nov 18, 2025
Tara McGowan, founder of Courier Newsroom, emphasizes the challenge of creating engaging truth amid misinformation. Stephanie Valencia, co-founder of Equis, highlights effective media strategies for reaching Latino audiences, combining digital and radio. Jessica Valenti, prominent writer and activist, advocates for focused coverage on critical issues like abortion, stressing the need for authentic narratives. Together, they explore the gaps in progressive media and the urgency to innovate to engage and mobilize audiences effectively.
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Trusted Individuals Now Drive Reach
- Social media is now mainstream media; trusted individual voices replace old mastheads.
- Outlets should aggregate and amplify expert creators rather than rely only on in-house reporters.
Local Voices Built Massive Reach
- Stephanie told of DJ Gabo in Las Vegas who became a trusted morning voice helping immigrants access resources.
- She also described Ben Zamora, a laid-off local reporter who built 6 million TikTok followers covering local news.
Audience Pressure Forces Coverage
- Building independent audiences can shame mainstream outlets into covering ignored stories.
- Outlets that drive attention make it costly and embarrassing for legacy media not to report certain issues.
