Library Newsroom Project Aims to Create Community Journalism Hubs

Terry Parris Jr. is advancing his vision for the Library Newsroom Project, an initiative aimed at re-establishing local journalism within public libraries. Parris Jr. previously worked in engagement journalism at organizations including ProPublica, The New York Times, and The City (now The City Reporter), and holds a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. He spent the past year as a John S. Knight fellow at Stanford University, where he refined the concept for the Library Newsroom Project. The project's core idea is to leverage libraries as accessible, community-focused spaces for local news production and dissemination, moving journalism back towards the tangible and the physical spaces where people live. This approach contrasts with the often overwhelming volume of content produced for digital platforms, which Parris Jr. believes has led journalism to "drift away from where people actually live their lives." He predicted in 2023 that 2026 would "push us back toward the physical and tangible in the spaces we work, the ways we engage, and the products we create," with libraries serving as a key starting point.

A pilot of the Library Newsroom Project has been implemented in partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library's Sunset Park branch. Through this collaboration, a group of community members has been producing a free, print monthly bulletin titled the Sunset Park Sun. This bulletin has seen over a dozen editions published since the pilot's inception. In August, Parris Jr. discussed his aspirations for expanding this model to other communities nationwide. He initially described the project's broader ambition as establishing "16,000 community-led newsrooms, one in every public library in the country." However, he now views the objective more expansively, focusing on "creating 16,000 places where neighbors can look more closely at where they live and make something public from what they find." This reframing emphasizes the creation of civic spaces for local observation and public output rather than solely news production.

The Library Newsroom Project seeks to address the decline in local news coverage by empowering communities to create their own news products. By utilizing the existing infrastructure and accessibility of public libraries, the project aims to foster a more direct connection between journalists and the communities they serve. The print bulletin format of the Sunset Park Sun is a deliberate choice, emphasizing tangibility and accessibility in an increasingly digital media landscape. This physical product can reach individuals who may not be as engaged with online news sources, thereby broadening the reach of local information. The project's success in Brooklyn suggests a replicable model for other libraries interested in supporting local journalism and civic engagement. Parris Jr.'s background, combining journalism experience with library science expertise, positions him uniquely to bridge these two fields and develop innovative solutions for local news.