What happens when a journalist sees critical gaps between communities and local media?

For Ruby Jones, the answer was to build something entirely new.

Ruby is the founder of Empower Media Exchange, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to community storytelling, media literacy, youth engagement and civic information. Her innovative work earned her Local Media Association's 2025 Digital Innovation Award for Rising Star in Innovation.

In this episode of Keep It Local, Ryan Welton talks with Ruby about creating Colorado's first Community Information Commons, helping young people become storytellers, building trust through relationship-centered journalism and why communication skills matter far beyond the newsroom.

• How Ruby's journalism journey began early
• The inspiration behind Empower Media Exchange
• Why media literacy is about more than spotting misinformation
• Creating opportunities for youth storytellers
• The role of intergenerational collaboration in journalism
• Building the Community Information Commons
• Why every organization should think like a media company
• How local journalism can better connect with communities
• The future of storytelling and audience trust

Ruby Jones is the founder of Empower Media Exchange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through storytelling, media literacy and civic engagement. Through initiatives including Front Range Focus, the Community Information Commons and NextGen Media Literacy Labs, she is helping create more inclusive pathways for people to share their stories and participate in local media.

Empower Media Exchange — https://empowermediaexchange.org

Follow Ruby Jones on LinkedIn

Follow Ruby on Instagram: @writing4real

Local Media Association — https://localmedia.org