Are you looking to cultivate a thriving online community for your audience? Healthy digital communities are more than a collection of “likes” or followers – they’re inclusive, uplifting, and collaborative spaces that involve direct partnership between media professionals and members of the public. This session will introduce concrete tools for starting a new digital “public space,” practices to improve social trust and belonging in your online community, and strategies for establishing meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with audience members online.

In 2023, KQED launched an innovative digital community on Discord to reimagine social media and strengthen public conversation across the Bay Area. We’ll share lessons learned from that launch, case studies from our California newsroom partners, and insights that apply across digital media platforms and station sizes.