Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune
About RNN
The Rural News Network is a project of the Institute for Nonprofit News, a resource hub for 500 nonprofit newsrooms dedicated to producing journalism as a public service.
Defining ‘Rural’
As an INN member, we would consider you for the Rural News Network if one or more of the following applies to your coverage area and news plan:
It includes remote towns, unincorporated areas
It includes a city or county with a resource-based economic history – such as logging, mining, agriculture, tourism seasonality
It includes communities of people who must travel lengthy distances to obtain basic goods and services, like groceries, health care, school or fuel
There are geographic features that affect access and transportation such as mountains or islands
It includes a town, a community, a county without a dedicated, on-the-ground news source
RNN Leadership
Alana Rocha
Director of Collaborative and Rural Initiatives, INN
Alana Rocha leads INN’s Rural News Network — its most ambitious collaboration to date. As editor, Alana works with 85+ member outlets in 47 states to guide and amplify coverage of remote areas. Alana joined INN after 20 years as a news and politics reporter in Florida, Kansas and Texas. Most recently, she worked for The Texas Tribune — a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization based in Austin — directing news partnerships and producing award-winning multimedia journalism in English and in Spanish.
Jonathan Kealing
CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER, INN
Jonathan Kealing strengthens collaboration among nonprofit newsrooms in the INN Network and develops partnerships and services that help them meet their missions and increase the reach and impact of their journalism. Jonathan oversees the Amplify News Project among Midwest newsrooms piloting news sharing and distribution models. He is especially interested in ways local and regional news organizations can work together and with national organizations to extend the impact of their journalism.
Paulina Velasco
Collaborations Project Manager, INN
Paulina Velasco works with members to develop and execute high-impact, investigative reporting series that are republished nationwide. Based in California, Paulina brings a decade of experience in multilingual journalism, including investigative reporting, audio production, and feature writing. Her work has uncovered critical issues, such as disinformation targeting Latinos on Spanish-language radio and the conditions facing asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
RNN FUNDERS
The Institute for Nonprofit News receives funding for the Rural News Network from organizations that care about independent journalism. Financial supporters have no say in editorial decisions.
Major funding provided by:
Collaborations and internships supported by:
Interested in supporting RNN? Get in touch with us today.