Oakland Local is a community news site focused on Oakland, California that was started in 2010 with $8,000 in seed funding. It now receives around 25,000 unique visitors and 66,000 page views per month, has over 2,350 Facebook fans and 1,000 Twitter followers, and partners with over 35 non-profit organizations. The site provides original reporting, community posts, and a full calendar of local events, and trains community partners on topics like mobile and web technologies. It aims to serve the community by building relationships, including a wide range of views, and being inclusive and responsive.

1. Strategies for Building Community
Susan Mernit, Oakland Local
The Media Consor<um
February 2010

2. Home page: oaklandlocal.com

3. Oakland Local‐News & Community
 4 months old
 25,000 unique visitors month
 66,000 PV month
 2,350 Facebook fans
 1,000 + Twitter followers
 35+ non-profit partners
 Growing volunteer base
 Started with $8,000 seed
money from J-Lab/New Voices
 Project of 501c3, Center for
Media Change
 Trains non-profit partners
 Partners w/2 local school
 Diverse team

4. Oakland Local Today
Editorial & community Revenue building
 Original reporting  $17,000 budget 2009
 Community posts  Antic: $210,000 2010
 Full calendar  Adding
 Trainings & Meet-ups  Advertising & sponsorships
 Mobile & Web  Consulting & training
 No full-time paid staff  Merchandise

5. What does being a community site
mean?
 Doing with, not for
 Everyone is a partner
 We aim to serve
 Face to face
relationships
 Wide range of views
 Move quickly, be
responsive
 INCLUSIVE
 Respectful

6. Building community
 Allot time to meet &
greet
 Have community
guidelines
 Mean them
 Empower yr partners
 Be a GOOD partner
 Reach deep into
community
 Reach deep again
 Teach
 Become relevant—
and remain so

7. Oakland Local loves to share community
strategies
Keep in touch
Twitter:
Susanmernit
Email: susan@oaklandlocal.com
Site: oaklandlocal.com