Read in Spanish

Tucson Spotlight is celebrating its birthday, marking a year of growth, partnerships, and reporting that puts Southern Arizona’s communities at the center of local news.

Launched September 30, 2024, Tucson Spotlight set out to build a bilingual newsroom that amplifies undercovered voices and creates opportunities for new and emerging journalists.

In its first year, the newsroom has published more than 1,000 stories, videos and newsletters; provided paid opportunities for more than 30 early-career reporters; published over 265 stories in Spanish; and partnered with community groups to connect residents with information on elections, civic resources, and local issues.

The Spotlight team also collaborated with other newsrooms and organizations on events ranging from city council candidate meet-and-greets to adult reading clubs, drawing hundreds of Tucsonans into conversations about their community.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built in just a year, but even more grateful to the readers, supporters, and partners who have trusted us to do this work,” said co-founder and publisher Caitlin Schmidt. “This newsroom belongs to Southern Arizona, and we’re excited to keep growing together in year two.”

Looking ahead, Tucson Spotlight plans to expand its student journalist programs, host a series of community listening sessions funded by a Listening Post Collective grant, and continue strengthening bilingual access to civic information across the region.

The newsroom will mark its birthday with celebrations throughout October, inviting readers and community members to join in.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.