Praxis
b° local 2026 set to launch
Rethinking local journalism: The second edition of b° local, the innovation program of the Bonn Institute, will launch in March 2026. Fully funded places were available to newsrooms for the first time 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 that many newsrooms face. Studies show that reporting becomes relevant when it offers real value, connects to people's lived realities, goes beyond highlighting problems to make solutions visible.
This is exactly where b° local comes in, a ten-month innovation program from the Bonn Institute.
Greater success in local journalism through a focus on solutions
The second edition of the program will launch in March 2026. Its goal is to rethink all aspects of local journalism from the audience's perspective, incorporate solutions-oriented approaches into work flows and coverage, 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.
This year, thanks to the support of the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius, we were able to award four fully funded places to local newsrooms that are particularly committed to innovation and dialogue.
The following media organizations are participating in the 2026 edition:
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 local journalism that is ready to flourish in the future.
Strong partners across Germany, Austria and Switzerland
b° local innovation program is being run in collaboration with strong partners from the media industry:
Association of German Local Newspapers and Local Media (Verband Deutscher Lokalzeitungen und Lokalmedien, VDL) – represents around 70 members and advocates for the promotion and support of local journalism, particularly in rural areas.
Swiss Media Publishers Association (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, covering Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
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.