In The Spotlight: Julia Gitis
On Reimagining Local News to Serve Local Communities
This week in the Village Voices Spotlight, we’re thrilled to feature one of our Village Builders, Julia Gitis, a passionate community advocate and the founder of Community News Lab. Based in San Francisco, Julia’s work centers on amplifying community member voices and fostering a sense of belonging through innovative information-sharing initiatives.
Her love for community, combined with her background in education, journalism, and technology, led her to her calling: founding Community News Lab, a nonprofit that empowers San Francisco neighborhoods by creating modern channels for connection. Julia chose the word “lab” because she wanted to emphasize the exploration of content and mediums by which information is shared.
Where her Journey Began
Julia’s dedication to community is deeply personal. As a teacher and a former product manager in tech, she’s always sought ways to connect and empower others, whether it’s in the classroom or in a team. She is the type to bake for her neighbours and give her number to neighborhood newcomers. During the COVID pandemic, while pregnant and new to her neighborhood, she introduced herself to the people who lived around her to build a much needed support network. Julia strongly believes that “Connecting people to a sense of place is hugely needed”. All the information we need might be at the tip of our fingertips, but do our cellphones really help us know what is happening in our neighbourhoods?
Where her Journey Took her
Julia’s core mission has been grounded in the question: How can we strengthen local communities? She saw an opportunity when, in her research, she discovered that most news racks have been taken down in most cities across the United States and around the world. Seeing that San Francisco had a few left, she set out on a project to revitalize and modernize the city’s iconic but underused newspaper racks. “These were once central hubs for local news and community updates,” Julia shared. “We’re transforming them into digital kiosks that double as neighborhood bulletin boards.” By having a physical presence for community news and local information on public sidewalks, people can come together in the spirit of shared learning and belonging.
Broadening the Definition of News and Reporting
Julia’s approach to journalism is inspired by groundbreaking work from New Jersey . The Jersey Bee, a local news organization, works with the local community to produce news that meets their needs and to encourage civic engagement. They treat news as a community service. “It’s not just about publishing articles; it’s about addressing community needs,” she explained. By gathering insights during neighborhood feedback days, Julia tailors her projects to reflect the unique priorities of each area.
In one neighborhood, this might mean job listings and community resources. In another, it’s all about art and volunteer opportunities. “People are curious about what’s happening around them,” Julia said. “Whether it’s a new construction project or the reopening of a beloved local venue, there is a lot of opportunity for connection through sharing local knowledge.”
How she is Integrating Village into her Practice
Julia discovered the Village Builder cohort through Common Agency, a connector for community enthusiasts. Joining the cohort has given her a support group of other community leaders with a similar passion to spark local community engagement. The Village Builder Cohort is a 6-month program guiding Village leaders to start micro-communities using a gathering program. “The toolkit and milestones have been useful,” she noted. “They’ve helped me supplement my nonprofit’s practice by integrating their gathering model into our activations.”
One particularly useful idea came from her Village builder cohort - using footprint stickers during the grounding segment of the gathering, which helped participants reflect before the community feedback session. Julia has observed that “It’s a simple way to ground people and create space for meaningful consultation.”
What’s Next for Community News Lab?
Julia’s pilot kiosks, personalized for each neighborhood, are just the beginning. By partnering with local organizations and newsrooms, she aims to ensure that the content reflects real community needs. “Our consultations show that people want more than articles; they crave visuals, art, and hyper-local updates,” Julia explained. Currently she is increasing her partnerships with local newsrooms and community organizations to provide content that is responsive to neighbourhood needs.
Her vision is clear: redefine local journalism to serve as a bridge between people and their communities. We look forward to seeing the success of Community News Lab in placemaking, civic engagement, and community building!
To learn more about Community News Lab, visit the website and give them a follow on Instagram
Food for Thought:
Where do you currently find local community information?
What sort of content would you like to see in your neighbourhood news kiosk?
What might attract your attention when it comes to community news?
I wish I had one of these community boards in my area! I'd definitely want to know about upcoming events. There is some development down the street - it would be great to see updates on that as there's work happening all the time. AND I see so many lost dog & cat posters - would love to see those in a place they can be both seen and updated/removed once found! LOVE this idea!!
Julia -- check out the newly formed https://www.newsfutures.org. I think you'll find kindred spirits there!