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
Can’t quite decide which type of news post you want to read? You can scroll through all of our latest posts below.
Summary Voters in Travis County will see a proposition related to increasing access to affordable child care on their ballot this year. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Early voting lasts from October 21st to November 1st and Election Day is on November 5th. Election
Election season is back! This fall, half of Austin’s City Council seats are up for election… and the mayor’s race is on the ballot… that’s a lot of candidates! But don’t worry, as always, we’re here to break it all down for you. In
Election season is back! This fall, half of Austin’s City Council seats are up for election… and that’s a lot of candidates! But don’t worry, as always, we’re here to break it all down for you. In this episode we cover the District 10
Summary There are two candidates running to become the next City Council member for District 10 (in west Austin). Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Early voting lasts from October 21st to November 1st and Election Day is on November 5th. Election season is here!
About CapMetro This post is sponsored by our community partner, CapMetro, Austin’s regional public transportation provider. Action Box Click the badge above to take the Transit Plan 2035 survey. This post is sponsored by CapMetro All Austin Common sponsors are screened by The Austin Common team
About the Downtown Austin Alliance This post is sponsored by the Downtown Austin Alliance, whose mission is to create, preserve, and enhance the vibe, vitality and value of downtown Austin for everyone. Action Box Click the badge above to order your tickets for Issues Over
Summary September 15th is Democracy Day. Action Box Attend an upcoming trivia night! This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces.
Summary Attending an Austin City Council meeting is a great way to make your voice be heard at the local level. We’ve put together some tips to make attending your first meeting easier. Action Box Attend an Austin City Council meeting! The Austin Common’s Giselle
About the Office of the City Auditor This post is sponsored by the Office of the City Auditor, an independent city department that conducts audits and investigations to help find ways for the city to improve. Action Box Click the badge above to read the
Summary Austin currently has a gap of about 1,700 Rapid Rehousing units. Action Box VOCAL-TX is hosting a mayoral candidate forum on homelessness on September 12th. Attend to learn more about local elected officials’ policy proposals for addressing homelessness in our community. Our series on
About CapMetro This post is sponsored CapMetro, Austin’s regional public transportation provider. Action Box Download the CapMetro App to plan your next public transit trip. This post is sponsored by CapMetro. All Austin Common sponsors are screened by The Austin Common team to ensure they’re doing
After a bit of a break, our podcast mini series on homelessness is back with a look into one of the solutions to homelessness – Rapid Rehousing. Host Amy Stansbury speaks with Eli Cortez and Alfredo Reyes Jr. (VOCAL-TX) about what the program is, who
