Our news philosophy is simple. With all of our coverage, we try and do the following:
Keep it local
Keep it brief
Actually explain the news
Give you clear steps for action
Keep it positive
Keep it nonpartisan
You can learn about how we actually do this by clicking on each of our story types below.
As a community-based news source, we’re here to serve you. That’s why we promise:
To follow journalistic principles of accuracy, fact-checking, multiple sources, and dedication to the truth
To immediately fix mistakes if they’re made and to be honest about how they happened
To approach our news coverage from a place of respect, civility, and kindness for our fellow Austinities
To honor the value of lived experiences (especially within marginalized communities) as well as expert testimony/ opinion
To allow for open, two-way communication between our staff and readers, ensuring that our content is relevant and useful to you
Finally understand that news story that's been all over your news feed!
Find out what's happening at the next Council meeting, without reading through a long/ boring agenda.
Stay up-to-date on what Austin's best local orgs/ businesses are up to... and how you can get involved.
Can’t quite decide which type of news post you want to read? You can scroll through all of our latest posts below.
Summary The need for emergency food resources has put a strain on Austin’s traditional food network, forcing the city, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits to get a bit more creative. Action Box If you want to help the growing number of Austinties in need of food, consider
Summary In this personal essay, local community activist Janis Bookout discusses the real danger of ignoring privilege in the midst of a global pandemic. About Janis Janis Bookout is the Executive Director of Earth Day Austin, as well as one of the organizers of Community
Summary In this personal essay, local community activist Janis Bookout encourages Austinites to see the power in embracing social distancing and choosing to create a long-lasting, positive impact on our local community. About Janis Janis Bookout is the Executive Director of Earth Day Austin, as
Summary The Festival Beach Food Forest is a public, fence-free piece of land in east Austin, where residents are invited to harvest and eat fresh fruits, herbs, and greens. Action Box The Festival Beach Food Forest is entirely volunteer-run. If you’d like to get involved,
Summary In March, Austin City Council approved the latest update to the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan, which basically determines where Austin will get its energy for the next 10 years. In this guest blog, the Sierra Club runs down the good
Summary Angelica Erazo and a team of volunteers are building a community-based website to help Austinites looking for help during COVID-19 find the resources they need. Action Box Volunteer as a fact-checker or translator for coronavirusaustin.org. “So one thing we know for sure, is that
Summary Kourtney Elaine (Austin Common Visual Designer + Staff Writer) shares her anxiety over changing up her zero waste lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic and wonders what sustainability lessons we can all learn from this crisis. Action Box Help ensure everyone has enough food to
Now, more than ever, it seems pretty important to know what the heck your government is up to. Big decisions are being made every day, right here in Austin, that will affect our lives and livelihood. But how do you attend a Council meeting
Hi Austin, Well, it’s been quite a week. Fear. Hope. Anxiety. Laughter. Stress. Confinement. It’s all there, swirling around in our busy minds. What’s uplifting us and keeping us focused is seeing the overwhelming desire from Austinites to serve our local community.
It’s the question on so many people’s minds right now – how can I help? The good news is, there are lots of ways you can get involved. But we understand all the options can also be pretty overwhelming. So for now, we’re sharing
Virtual meetings get a bad wrap… and for some good reasons. They can feel impersonal. It’s really easy to get distracted. Everyone always seems to be doing something else at the same time. Not everyone knows how to use the technology. The kids are
Summary Every 10 years the US government conducts a census to get an accurate count of everyone living within our borders. This data impacts everything from federal funding for healthcare and schools to how US congressional reps are apportioned. Action Box If there’s one thing
