For journalism in general, but for local news and information providers in particular, the last decade has been one of resource scarcity, uncertainty, and rapid technological development. In the U.S., as in many Western democracies, consolidation and cost-cutting have resulted in dramatic losses for local journalism in all but the largest cities. Within this context, many surviving local journalism outlets have turned to collaborative journalism as a way to share data and stretch limited resources, while also providing what are often more comprehensive stories to bigger audiences.

As many are realizing, the digital age has created technological affordances that make collaboration easier than ever before. This report identifies and compares six models of collaborative journalism that span collaborations from the hyperlocal to the international levels. We provide examples of each model, and discuss common costs and benefits for each. Identifying and describing the different models of collaborative journalism is of use to journalists, funders, and scholars alike. Further, the project points to a bright spot in journalism, and highlights one of the ways that news and information providers are finding their way forward in the digital age.