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.
Food pantry takes shape in Chaparral to fight hunger
Animas High teen accused of taking gun to campus
Las Cruces students wanting mental health care face waitlists
NM kids can text ‘988’ for free mental health help
Gen Z kids struggle with mental health across Southern NM
‘Pop-up’ food give-away in Santa Teresa helps 800 families
Doña Ana County may be home to a new community outreach facility. Learn more about it here.
Shopping cart ordinance already stirring controversy, as cart is seized from homeless resident
Sunland Park nonprofit doubles food aid to residents
Some providers will offer low-cost internet, even as federal program ends, White House says
Las Cruces ‘grief party’ lightens the load of heavy emotions
NM lawmakers bypass full funding for rural libraries
NM endowment offers perpetual funding source for rural libraries
The Las Cruces Bulletin: Mobile crisis unit looks to the future after debut year
Sunland Park bridging digital divide with new hire
KRWG’s ‘Newsmakers’ spotlights hunger in Southern NM — and what’s being done about it
Las Cruces Sun-News: City commits $6M to complete affordable rental complex
The Deming Headlight: Luna County OKs affordable housing ordinance
Factors combine to boost hunger across Southern NM
Food insecurity soars in Sunland Park
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.
