Lightning Chats
Discuss a shared challenge, brainstorm ideas for a project, or learn more about a case study at Gather's lightning chats. You can also subscribe to a lightning chat calendar on Google calendar or on iCal. Here's what's coming up:
- Dec. 5 // Gather welcome session: We have a consistent stream of new folks joining Gather, and the Gather staff and steering committee would like the chance to welcome you properly. Join us for an informal chat. We’ll briefly walk through the ways you can make the most of Gather, then we’ll have introductions and share ideas. We’ll toast each other with a cup of coffee (for our West Coast members), a glass of wine (for our European members) or any beverage of your choice! Join us on Zoom at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT on Dec. 5 for a 30-minute conversation. Click here to add this to your Google Calendar.
Jobs, Fellowships, and Funding
Check out our full list of jobs, fellowships, and funding opportunities on Gather, and let us know what we're missing. Here's what's new this week:
- Audience and Digital Content Specialist, NPR Training: "The NPR Training team is seeking an experienced journalist who is passionate about exploring the many places where audiences and content intersect. We are looking for someone who is a strong editor and content strategist, loves creating things and delights in leading other journalists to breakthrough moments.
You will direct the digital presence of NPR Training, including the newsletter, social channels, and npr.org/training, a premier journalism training resource. You’ll also train journalists of all levels, from interns to veteran reporters, producers and editors, at member stations and at NPR. Through one-on-one and group sessions, conference workshops and publishing content to the training site, you’ll have an opportunity to become a leading voice on best practices in digital journalism." Learn more.
Community Updates
If you haven't joined the Gather Slack community, you're missing out on a lot of brainstorming, advice giving and collaboration. Join here.
- Incentives for engagement: Kristin Walters asked her Gather colleagues how their newsroom staffs are encouraged to practice meaningful engagement. Read and contribute to the thread here.
- Best stories of 2018: Sam Hoisington kicked off a robust Slack thread on creative ways to do end-of-year story roundups. Most popular stories? Stories with the most impact? Stories that taught you about your community? Read the great ideas here.
- Let’s talk about money: Interested in learning ways that engagement efforts can help your newsroom's finances? Hearken published a piece this month on audience engagement for successful fund drives, highlighting some of the effective ways partner newsrooms are pitching their value with their public-powered work. Interested in learning more? Sign up for Hearken’s free webinar (1-2 p.m. Central on Nov. 28) on connecting engagement and fundraising.
- Hot Read: "If you hate the media, you’re more likely to be fooled by a fake headline" by Joshua Benton at Nieman Lab. (This is the Gather community's most-shared story on Twitter this week. Look for other 'hot reads' in Friday's Nuzzel newsletter and in the #reads channel on the Gather Slack.)
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Meet Maddie Poore, this week's Featured Member.
Name: Maddie Poore 
What you do: I’m a part of the membership team at WAMU, Washington D.C.’s NPR station and currently I’m focused on launching a membership program for DCist (the digital news site WAMU acquired). We’re building engagement into the program and hope to create something that isn’t purely transactional but instead is mutually fulfilling and sustainable!
Why you’re on Gather: I love sharing space with so many incredible folks doing this work! It’s great to be able to connect and learn with people who are noodling on similar issues!
One thing you want to learn on Gather: How other organizations are thinking of engagement and membership (or other forms of fundraising) together, especially if it’s accessible to the whole community, not just those with immediate $$$.
One thing you have to share on Gather: I ran DCist’s relaunch Kickstarter, so I’m happy to share what I learned there! Also, I love a good brainstorm—I’m pretty much always excited to think on something and throw ideas around.
One thing about your work that gets you especially pumped up: Collaborating with the community. Anytime we can work with local creatives on a project I’m thrilled. Recently we partnered with a local coffee roaster for a DCist coffee blend, as well as other local artists to create our Kickstarter rewards!
Who or what inspired you to get into this work?
My colleagues, at WAMU and DCist, they all care so much about our community and the work we do. It’s energizing to be around such a dedicated and innovative group of people!
Would you rather have more time or more money?
I wish I had more time, or specifically a clone (or time-turner) especially this past week at the People Powered Publishing Conference in Chicago—so many brilliant sessions, deciding which to attend was a real challenge!
Links for ways to connect with you:
Twitter: @maddiepoore_
And Maddie Poore on the Gather Slack.
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