Oakland Local--a non-profit  online news & community media hub in Oakland, CA-- aims to be both the go-to media resource for diverse voices in the East Bay of California and a resource to help low-income and under-served communities make their voices heard online through providing hands-on media training. We cover issues including food access, alternative transportation, social justice, public safety, education, arts and culture and reach over 70,000 visitors every month.

Started by Oakland media professionals Amy Gahran, Kwan Booth and Susan Mernit, Oakland Local is a must-read news source for what's happening in Oakland as well as a mission-driven organization.

NEW!! Jan. 15, 2011: Oakland Local makes Top 50 news sites list from Columbia Journalism Review

Our MIssion

The mission of Oakland Local is to democratize access to new media and web social media skills by partnering with community organizations to provide them with the skills, resources, and awareness to tell stories and make their voices heard through publishing on Oakland Local and on the web. We believe there is a digital divide based not on access, but on knowledge, so we teach news writing, multimedia and social media skills to bridge that gap.

Founded in October 2009, Oakland Local is committed to working with Oakland residents and communities, with a special emphasis on underserved communities and people of color organizations. We welcome all who wish to contribute, regardless of race, class, gender or sexual orientation.

At the same time, our site combines original investigative and feature reporting with community news and information non-profit organizations, community groups and many engaged citizens from around the city. We are a voice of independent journalism and community service for a city where too many people go unheard, too many issues uncovered.  

Our audience and contributors are diverse, engaged, and committed to cover the stories that need to be told--but often go unheard.

In the past 30 days (December 15, 2010), Oakland Local had 158, 200 page views, and 70,000 unique visitors.

Our Facebook page has 4,600 fans, and we have more than 2,500 Twitter followers.

What we focus on

Centered on topics including environmental justice, food distribution, transportation, development & housing, and gender & identity, Oakland Local does original reporting and publishes information from local non-profits and community organizations within a range of Oakland neighborhoods.

Who contributes

Our contributors include members of non-profit organizations, community organizers, writers, young people, working people and people of every race/age/nationality/identity--just like Oakland. Over 75% of our staff are people of color;

We see ourselves as a capacity-building organization for civic engagement and community empowerment because our work with individuals and partner organizations helps bridge a digital divide that is about knowledge, not access.

If you organization would like training, talk to us. editor@oaklandlocal.com

Sign up to blog, post and share information about your work!

Who are our partners?

We work with many different types of groups around the city, Our partners contribute community news and events to the site on behalf of their organizations. We help these groups improve both their news literacy and their social media skills through informal, free, hands-on trainings, workshops, collaborations,  and brown bags.

We also support individuals who come to the site to post community news, blog, share events, participate in our forums and comment.

If you would like to be involved with our site, please get in touch--editor@oaklandlocal.com.

Thank you to our funders

Programs at Oakland Local have been made possible through the support of our funders, who include

• J-Lab, American University
• The Harnisch Foundation
• The California Endowmen
• The Renaissance Center for Innovation in Journalism
• The GW Williams Center for Journalism Innovation