Praxis
b° local enters the next round
Rethinking local journalism: In March 2026, the second edition of b° local, the innovation program of the Bonn Institute, will launch. For the first time, we were able to award funded places to newsrooms thanks to the support of the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius.
Local journalism is undergoing profound change: news avoidance, declining trust, and growing distance from audiences are challenges many newsrooms are facing. Studies show that reporting becomes relevant when it offers real added value, connects to people’s lived realities, and not only highlights problems but also makes solutions visible.
This is exactly where b° local comes in – a ten-month innovation program by the Bonn Institute.
Greater success in local journalism through solutions-oriented reporting
The second edition of the program will launch in March 2026. Its goal is to consistently rethink local journalism from the audience’s perspective, embed solutions-oriented approaches, and strengthen dialogue-driven formats. In doing so, newsrooms not only enhance the depth and context of their reporting but also build long-term, trust-based relationships with their readers.
For the first time, thanks to the support of the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius, we were able to award funded places to four local newsrooms that are particularly committed to innovation and dialogue.
The following media organizations are participating:
Hanauer Anzeiger
Schwetzinger Zeitung
Offenbach Post
Lausitzer Rundschau
Märkische Oderzeitung
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung
Volksstimme
Thüringer Allgemeine Zeitung
Mannheimer Morgen
Rheintaler
Werdenberger & Obertoggenburger
We look forward to mutual exchange, inspiring impulses, and concrete ideas for a sustainable and future-ready local journalism.
Project partners: Strongly connected across the DACH region
The innovation program is implemented in collaboration with strong partners from the media industry:
Verband Deutscher Lokalzeitungen und Lokalmedien (VDL) – represents around 70 members and advocates for the promotion and support of local journalism, particularly in rural areas.
Verlegerverband Schweizer Medien (VSM) – the industry association of private media companies in German-speaking Switzerland, representing around 300 newspapers and magazines.
Bonn Institute – a center of excellence for innovative and constructive journalism in the DACH region.
These partnerships provide the foundation for aligning local journalism more closely with audience needs, fostering exchange between newsrooms, and exploring new approaches that go beyond traditional reporting.