Organ Mountains in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative

We are a partnership of local news organizations covering — with a solutions-based lens— topics of importance to southern New Mexicans.

The Rebuild: How Southern NM Recovers from the Pandemic

In 2022, the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative launched a project to cover stories related to the pandemic and recovery — everything from health and mental health impacts to high-speed internet access.

We’re looking at these issues from a solutions-based reporting model, in which responses to social challenges, like the pandemic, are critically examined. We seek to better connect and engage with communities, especially those under-served in local news, across the southern half of the state. Here are the latest stories.

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 10/26/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 10/26/22

KRWG: City gathering input on federal pandemic aid to combat homelessness

Algernon D'Ammassa 10/5/22 Algernon D'Ammassa 10/5/22

Las Cruces returns millions of dollars used for COVID-19 and humanitarian response efforts

Columbus New Mexico News Staff 9/19/22 Columbus New Mexico News Staff 9/19/22

Columbus New Mexico News: Luna County launches internet speed test program as part of funding push

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/26/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/26/22

Challenges to NM kids’ well-being illuminated in yearly ‘Kids Count’ report

Mike Smith 8/13/22 Mike Smith 8/13/22

Carlsbad Current-Argus: COVID-19 levels high in Lincoln County

Reyes Mata III 8/12/22 Reyes Mata III 8/12/22

Southern NM community of Chaparral had trouble accessing COVID-19 relief funds

Jeff Gore, a longtime resident of Chaparral, says the community is a quiet one that is not trusting of the government or the media. (Photo by Reyes Mata III)

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/12/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/12/22

The Las Cruces Bulletin: NM children 50th in well-being, but some strides made

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/10/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 8/10/22

City of Las Cruces OK’s GO Bond question for affordable housing

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 7/23/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 7/23/22

KRWG ‘Newsmakers’ episode features COVID-19 update

Reyes Mata III 7/14/22 Reyes Mata III 7/14/22

A look at COVID-19 mental health impacts & spending in Southern New Mexico

Columbus, New Mexico resident Lievano Ramirez said the stress of isolating in his home and the uncertainty of living amid a pandemic affected his mental health.

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 7/7/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 7/7/22

KRWG ‘Fronteras’ episode: COVID-19 in NM border town

KRWG ‘Fronteras’ episode: Host Anthony Moreno interviews SNMJC Reporter Reyes Mata III (07/05/22)

Mike Cook 7/4/22 Mike Cook 7/4/22

The Las Cruces Bulletin: City spends millions from hospital fund on COVID-19 relief, other aid projects

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 6/27/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 6/27/22

KTAL show features SNMJC’s COVID-19 recovery project

Reyes Mata III 6/5/22 Reyes Mata III 6/5/22

Columbus, New Mexico, shocked by COVID-19 early on, adapts for new normal

From left to right are Ruben Orozco, Gilberto Lujan and Juaquin Torres, three Columbus residents who say they are all vaccinated and get most of their COVID information from Spanish-language television.

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 5/15/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 5/15/22

Columbus NM News spotlights broadband meeting

Reyes Mata III 5/12/22 Reyes Mata III 5/12/22

Billions in COVID-19 relief money pours into New Mexico

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 4/8/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 4/8/22

KRWG TV’s ‘Fronteras’ episode spotlights pandemic challenges to food banks

KRWG Public Media’s Anthony Moreno discusses with Roadrunner Food Bank President & CEO Mag Strittmatter the challenges of feeding hungry New Mexicans amid the pandemic.

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 3/26/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 3/26/22

Las Cruces Sun-News podcast on collaborative & solutions journalism

A Las Cruces Sun-News podcast on solutions & collaborative journalism in southern New Mexico

Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 3/16/22 Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative 3/16/22

KRWG interview with Project journalist, manager

KRWG Public Media’s Anthony Moreno interviews Project Journalist Reyes Mata III and Project Manager Diana Alba-Soular about the COVID-19 recovery reporting project.

What is Solutions-Based Journalism?

The concept of solutions-based journalism starts with an understanding that, historically, journalists have devoted too much attention to social problems — but without comparable attention to the possible solutions to those problems. This can lead to a false sense of hopelessness — a belief that progress in addressing society’s most pressing challenges just isn’t possible. In an attempt to counter that long-practiced (and misguided) trend, journalists across the world are embracing a refreshed approach — solutions-based journalism — to critically examine solutions that are being applied, whether in their own communities or elsewhere.

Not every news story produced by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative is a solutions story, but many of them are! And we believe this dynamic approach will help to change the conversation around local news; improve equity, diversity and sustainability in the practice of journalism; and strengthen ties with audiences across southern New Mexico — for the betterment of our region.

Learn more