Jump In With Jacob 28 August

What I've had to quickly learn in this town is that there's a story in everything, and everyone, if you're willing to dig deep enough.

This industry is much more nuanced than some might imagine— in fact I've come to realise that first hand.

During my short time as a freelancer in Sydney, and even as an intern in Pittsburgh, I came to know journalism as an industry that was quite mechanical. It became tedious cycle—news flying in from all directions, sifting through the noise, extracting what mattered, and producing articles that felt robotic, detached, almost lifeless in their lack of creativity.

Community journalism is a little different—and in ways that I quite enjoy. It pushes you to be more proactive, to look under every rock in search of a story. It allows for more creativity, not only in that way, but also in the freedom it grants you as a story teller.

Most importantly, it breaks down the barrier between journalist and reader. Instead of sitting behind an office wall, you’re out there, immersed, living alongside the people you write for. You stop feeling like an outsider looking in, and instead become part of community itself.

Although I'm still learning with every day on the job, I’m beginning to understand that community journalism isn’t just about reporting—it’s about belonging. It's about resonating with the community, not just in your writing, but in how you carry yourself. And although I'm no local, with each person I meet, and every story that I write, that gap is being bridged.

‍