News Blog

When we founded The 51st, we wanted to lead a news organization shaped by D.C. residents. And the Community Connector program has become an integral way of doing so.

From the outset, we knew we wanted to highlight art and help people connect with other residents who had a positive vision for Birmingham. Here are methods that helped us fill a historic theater for a fun and engaging evening.

If cultural experiences beyond the Blues were offered, would visitors be interested? And what could be done to help local residents build capacity to compete with the larger tourism industry?

By partnering with teachers, editors and writing mentors embedded in the communities that newsrooms hope to serve, journalism can build pathways for people with lived experience to join the civic conversation.

We asked four summit participants to share more about the ways they are empowering communities with skills and opportunities to have influence in their local news ecosystem.

API shared articles and resources about ways to build trust with communities, tell impactful storytelling, engage younger audiences and navigate the unique challenges of working in this industry. Here are some of the most popular articles from this year.

Here's who joined us and what we've been up to in 2025.

Here's a list of frequently asked questions about influencer collaborations to help publishers navigate this sometimes tricky terrain.

We spoke with seven creators who have worked with both local and national newsrooms, and two who were hired to create content for social media sites. One theme came through clearly: successful newsroom-creator partnerships depend on mutual trust, creative freedom and a shared respect for how audiences connect online.

As the American Press Institute marks 80 years, we’ll honor our legacy by continuing to respond to the evolving needs of news leaders. Our upcoming API Local News Summits will explore three critical places where democracy and sustainability intersect.