Conservation, agriculture and recreation survey for Moffat County residents – SteamboatToday.com

Report on Community Support for Local Journalism and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Community financial contributions are foundational to the work of the Steamboat Pilot & Today, enabling the delivery of quality, locally relevant journalism.
• This support directly underpins SDG 16.10 by ensuring public access to information, which is essential for fostering transparent and accountable institutions within Steamboat and Routt County.
• By sustaining local news, the community reinforces the democratic infrastructure necessary for peace, justice, and effective governance.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The critical role of local journalism is particularly evident during public health crises, such as the evolving coronavirus pandemic.
• Keeping the community informed with reliable and timely information about local impacts is a direct contribution to SDG 3, specifically Target 3.d, which focuses on strengthening capacities for early warning and management of health risks.
• Financial support for news coverage is therefore an investment in the community’s collective health and well-being.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Donations to the Steamboat Pilot & Today represent an investment in a local enterprise, contributing to the regional economy.
• This support aligns with SDG 8 by helping to sustain local jobs and promote development-oriented policies that foster creativity and innovation in the media sector.
• Every contribution, regardless of size, reinforces the economic viability of an essential local institution.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. A call for donations constitutes a form of civil society partnership, uniting readers and a local news organization to achieve common objectives.
2. This collaborative model is central to SDG 17, demonstrating how local partnerships can advance sustainable development.
3. All funds are allocated exclusively to the development and creation of increased news coverage, ensuring the partnership directly serves its goal of a more informed and resilient community.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which is a call for financial support for a local newspaper to cover the coronavirus pandemic, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are to goals concerning strong institutions, public health, and partnerships.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant because local journalism, as described in the article, is a cornerstone of a strong, transparent institution. By aiming to “keep our community informed,” the newspaper contributes to public access to information, which is fundamental for accountability and informed decision-making.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article explicitly mentions the need to inform the community about the “evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally.” Providing timely and accurate information during a public health crisis is crucial for promoting health, preventing the spread of disease, and managing health risks, which directly aligns with SDG 3.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is a direct appeal for a partnership between the news organization (a civil society/private entity) and the public (“Readers around Steamboat and Routt County”). It calls for financial contributions to achieve the shared goal of maintaining quality local journalism, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership in action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

   The article’s core mission is to “deliver quality, locally relevant journalism” and “keep our community informed.” This directly supports the principle of ensuring public access to information, which is essential for a functioning democracy and strong institutions.

2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

   While the context is a developed country, the principle of strengthening capacity for managing health risks is universal. The newspaper’s effort to provide “increased news coverage” on the “evolving coronavirus pandemic” is a direct contribution to the community’s capacity to understand and respond to a local and global health risk.

3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   The call to action, “Your financial contribution supports our efforts,” and the provision of a “Donate” button exemplify an appeal for a civil society partnership. The newspaper is seeking resources from the community to sustain its operations for the public good, which is a form of partnership central to achieving the SDGs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress, even if it does not cite official SDG indicator codes.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.10: The financial viability and operational capacity of local media organizations.

  The article’s plea for donations highlights that the existence of news coverage is dependent on financial support. Therefore, the success of the donation drive (“Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference”) serves as a direct, measurable indicator of the community’s ability to sustain its access to information.

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.d: The volume and accessibility of locally relevant public health information.

  The article states that donations will be “used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage” about the pandemic. Progress could be measured by tracking the amount of reporting produced on the topic, thereby gauging the strengthened capacity to inform the public about health risks.

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The level of financial contributions from the public to support civil society initiatives.

  The number of donations and the total amount raised through the appeal are direct and quantifiable indicators of the effectiveness of the partnership between the newspaper and the community. The statement “Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage” links this financial support directly to the intended outcome.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: steamboatpilot.com