Nonprofit News Organization Free Press Indiana Launches Mirror Indy

Free Press Indiana, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit news startups, today launched Mirror Indy, a diverse, locally rooted newsroom that will have 20 staff members providing Indianapolis with the community-centered news residents say they want most.

Mirror Indy is a publication created to be a reflection of Indianapolis. Its name is a nod to the past with an eye toward the future, and draws from the historically significant local invention of the rearview mirror. Mirror Indy’s coverage will include a mix of accountability journalism, essential daily news and information, and arts and culture coverage to tell the full story of all Indianapolis communities.

“Our publication was founded to tell the stories that matter to Indy residents and to always reflect the city,” said Oseye Boyd, editor in chief of Mirror Indy. “Our stories will hold powerful people accountable and showcase the vibrancy of where we live. In all of our work, we will be driven by community members.”

At launch, Mirror Indy’s coverage demonstrates the accountability, inclusion and neighborhoods reporting that will be a core focus of the publication’s content. Stories include a hard look at the growing number of unhoused residents in Indy and the realities they face, a look into west side alleyway pothole issues and profiles of food truck entrepreneurs and artists, in reflection and celebration of the city’s vibrant arts and culture. Residents can also find resources to take action to support their community, with many more stories to come from neighborhoods in every corner of the city. MirrorIndy.org will be updated daily, and content will also be accessible on social media, via its newsletter, and offered free to other outlets for republication.

Indianapolis residents play an integral role in Mirror Indy. Community members participated in both the hiring and naming processes for Mirror Indy, and play an ongoing role in newsroom operations through the Indy Documenters program, part of the award-winning national Documenters Network by City Bureau. Through the program, Mirror Indy has trained more than 70 residents to cover public meetings and expects to grow to 100 by early 2024. Indy Documenters represent a cross-section of the diversity of Indianapolis in terms of race and economic backgrounds; they range in age from 23 to 85 and are from ZIP codes across the city.

Mirror Indy is the first newsroom of Free Press Indiana, a statewide local news initiative that was created out of a community listening and research effort led by local civic leaders in partnership with the American Journalism Project, which included input from over 1,000 Hoosiers. Free Press Indiana works to ensure a thriving local media ecosystem across Indiana. In addition to launching newsrooms like Mirror Indy where needed, Free Press Indiana facilitates investments in the local news ecosystem and fosters collaboration among its growing partnership of over a dozen local organizations, including news organizations and local universities. Free Press Indiana partners are featured in Mirror Indy, and will continue to collaborate on filling information gaps by coordinating coverage and distribution to get more journalism out to more people.

Under Boyd’s leadership, the Mirror Indy team includes respected veteran journalists who are passionate about Indianapolis.

“Indianapolis will be well served by Oseye and the talent she’s hired for the newsroom. The impressive leaders and journalists are a testament to Mirror Indy’s mission,” said Bro Krift, CEO of Free Press Indiana. “The staff was selected because they made it clear they want to meet Indianapolis’ needs and give people access to information to navigate everyday life as Hoosiers. These are journalists who are going to ask hard questions and expect thoughtful responses to make Indianapolis a better place for all.”

Free Press Indiana and Mirror Indy are made possible by an unprecedented coalition of local organizations including the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Herbert Simon Family Foundation, Myrta Pulliam, Lumina Foundation, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, John Mutz, Ferguson Fuson Family Fund, Michael Arnolt, the Robert R. and Gayle T. Meyer Family Fund, Gene D’Adamo, Joyce Foundation, the Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, and the American Journalism Project, which provides incubation support to build and launch the organization and its network of newsrooms.

Free Press Indiana and Mirror Indy are actively hiring for additional positions. More information and daily news coverage are available at http://localnewsforindiana.org/jobs.

About Free Press Indiana

Free Press Indiana is a nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis. With over $11 million raised so far, it is on a mission to ensure all residents of Indiana have the local news and information they want and need, and is filling information gaps with the launch of Mirror Indy, a newsroom serving Indianapolis; facilitating investments in journalism outlets around the state; and fostering collaboration among Indiana outlets to amplify local journalism for all Hoosiers, especially underserved communities. The initiative receives support from a broad coalition of philanthropies.