Building trust begins by listening — but it only grows when newsrooms give back

Closing the loop with the communities we serve reminds people that their voices matter—and that through collaboration, real progress and change actually happen 

In my previous columns, I have discussed how at Documented we’ve become a bridge between communities and immigration professionals, and I explained the first two of our three-step process for engaging with our immigrant communities: Listen, Understand, Take Action.

Now, I want to focus on how we take action. This closes the loop and allows us to build trust with the communities we serve. In fact, trust is Documented’s Gold Standard, which we think is our most valuable asset.

Let me explain: In community-driven journalism, it means going back to the communities we serve to listen, constantly to avoid being extractive, and give back to those that trust us.