Practical help for newsrooms

Guides & resources

Search a curated collection of guidance, tools and expert resources for reporting, running a newsroom and serving your community.

Need a hand? Ask CPA →

Browse by topic

CPA services

Press credentials

Journalism jobs Awards & recognition Newsroom directory Public notices

Featured resources

Guide

Understand Colorado open records and meetings

Legal, access & press freedom

CFOIC’s searchable Sunshine Laws guide covers Colorado records requests, open meetings, executive sessions and court access, with topic navigation and links to statutes and cases.

Read the guide →

Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Details

Description: CFOIC’s searchable Sunshine Laws guide covers Colorado records requests, open meetings, executive sessions and court access, with topic navigation and links to statutes and cases.
Who can use it: Journalists; Colorado residents. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Read the guide
Provider: Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition
Format: Guide

Provider source for Understand Colorado open records and meetings

Worksheet

Plan a safer reporting assignment

Editorial & reporting

CPJ’s five-page risk assessment template helps reporters and editors plan an assignment, assess physical and digital risks, and document check-ins and contingencies.

Explore the resource →

Committee to Protect Journalists

Details

Description: CPJ’s five-page risk assessment template helps reporters and editors plan an assignment, assess physical and digital risks, and document check-ins and contingencies.
Who can use it: Reporters; Freelancers; Assignment editors. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Explore the resource
Provider: Committee to Protect Journalists
Format: Worksheet

Provider source for Plan a safer reporting assignment

Guide

Improve reader membership retention

Revenue & sustainability

The Membership Guide’s retention chapter explains churn and retention and explores billing, customer service and participation practices that support a reader membership program.

Read the guide →

Membership Puzzle Project / The Membership Guide

Details

Description: The Membership Guide’s retention chapter explains churn and retention and explores billing, customer service and participation practices that support a reader membership program.
Who can use it: Audience teams; Membership managers; Newsroom leaders. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Read the guide
Provider: Membership Puzzle Project / The Membership Guide
Format: Guide

Provider source for Improve reader membership retention

Explore resources

Find guidance and tools from CPA and trusted providers across the local-news field.

34 resources · Showing 25–34

Guide

Research Colorado records and meeting access

Legal, access & press freedom

RCFP’s Colorado Open Government Guide organizes records and meeting access questions by topic, including exemptions, fees, closed sessions and procedures for seeking access.

Read the guide →

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Details

Description: RCFP’s Colorado Open Government Guide organizes records and meeting access questions by topic, including exemptions, fees, closed sessions and procedures for seeking access.
Who can use it: Reporters; Editors; Public-records researchers. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Read the guide
Provider: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Format: Guide

Provider source for Research Colorado records and meeting access

Checklist

Review an AI story for common pitfalls

Editorial & reporting

Sayash Kapoor and Arvind Narayanan’s checklist identifies eighteen pitfalls in AI reporting, with examples that editors and reporters can use to question claims and framing.

Explore the resource →

Sayash Kapoor and Arvind Narayanan / Princeton University-hosted resource

Details

Description: Sayash Kapoor and Arvind Narayanan’s checklist identifies eighteen pitfalls in AI reporting, with examples that editors and reporters can use to question claims and framing.
Who can use it: Reporters covering AI; Editors; Journalism learners. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Explore the resource
Provider: Sayash Kapoor and Arvind Narayanan / Princeton University-hosted resource
Format: Checklist

Provider source for Review an AI story for common pitfalls

Ethics code

Review journalism ethics principles

Editorial & reporting

SPJ's Code of Ethics provides a framework for discussing accuracy, harm, independence, accountability and transparency in reporting and editing. Read the complete code and its supporting explanations when considering an ethical decision.

Read the ethics code →

Society of Professional Journalists

Details

Description: SPJ's Code of Ethics provides a framework for discussing accuracy, harm, independence, accountability and transparency in reporting and editing. Read the complete code and its supporting explanations when considering an ethical decision.
Who can use it: Reporters; editors; journalism learners. Public resource.
Cost: Public online code.
Task: Read the ethics code
Provider: Society of Professional Journalists
Format: Ethics code

Provider source for Review journalism ethics principles

Podcast and transcript

Review newsroom workload and delegation

Leadership & operations

In this December 2024 conversation, Samantha Ragland discusses delegation, workload and the tasks newsroom leaders can stop doing.

Improve newsroom management →

Local News Matters / Samantha Ragland

Details

Description: In this December 2024 conversation, Samantha Ragland discusses delegation, workload and the tasks newsroom leaders can stop doing.
Who can use it: Public episode page for newsroom leaders and teams.
Cost: Public page and automated transcript; no displayed charge observed.
Task: Improve newsroom management
Provider: Local News Matters / Samantha Ragland
Format: Podcast and transcript

Provider source for Review newsroom workload and delegation

Search tool

Search Colorado public notices

Public notices

Find published Colorado public notices by keyword, county, city, publication or date, with an archive for older notices.

Public search

Find a public notice →

Public Notice Colorado / Colorado Press Association

Details

Description: Find published Colorado public notices by keyword, county, city, publication or date, with an archive for older notices.
Who can use it: Public notice search available to everyone.
Cost: Public search is free; optional notification services have their own terms.
Task: Find a public notice
Provider: Public Notice Colorado / Colorado Press Association
Format: Search tool

Provider source for Search Colorado public notices

Handbook

Strengthen a verification workflow

Editorial & reporting

Review methods for investigating manipulated information, social accounts and visual material. The handbook includes practical chapters and cases; confirm current platform interfaces before applying older examples.

Strengthen a verification workflow →

European Journalism Centre

Details

Description: Review methods for investigating manipulated information, social accounts and visual material. The handbook includes practical chapters and cases; confirm current platform interfaces before applying older examples.
Who can use it: Public reference aimed at journalists and investigators; no application criteria stated.
Cost: Public chapters and PDF links offered; no fee shown on the verified landing page. PDF download not tested.
Task: Strengthen a verification workflow
Provider: European Journalism Centre
Format: Handbook

Provider source for Strengthen a verification workflow

Checklist

Support staff facing online abuse

Leadership & operations

CPJ’s two-page checklist helps editors assess online-abuse risks before assigning stories and plan account security, reporting procedures and support for staff and freelancers.

Explore the resource →

Committee to Protect Journalists

Details

Description: CPJ’s two-page checklist helps editors assess online-abuse risks before assigning stories and plan account security, reporting procedures and support for staff and freelancers.
Who can use it: Editors; Commissioners; Newsroom managers. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Explore the resource
Provider: Committee to Protect Journalists
Format: Checklist

Provider source for Support staff facing online abuse

Research report

Understand Colorado newsroom capacity

Leadership & operations

COLab’s 2026 State of News report examines staffing, revenue, audiences and capacity in Colorado news organizations using responses about their work in 2025.

Explore the resource →

Colorado News Collaborative with Colorado Press Association and Colorado Media Project

Details

Description: COLab’s 2026 State of News report examines staffing, revenue, audiences and capacity in Colorado news organizations using responses about their work in 2025.
Who can use it: Newsroom leaders; Funders; Researchers. Public resource.
Cost: Public online guide.
Task: Explore the resource
Provider: Colorado News Collaborative with Colorado Press Association and Colorado Media Project
Format: Research report

Provider source for Understand Colorado newsroom capacity

Tool

Understand whose voices your reporting includes

Editorial & reporting

RJI and Chalkbeat’s Source Auditing Tool helps newsrooms track and analyze reporting sources. The provider offers setup information, a usage guide and a demo route.

Free tool

Explore the resource →

Reynolds Journalism Institute and Chalkbeat

Details

Description: RJI and Chalkbeat’s Source Auditing Tool helps newsrooms track and analyze reporting sources. The provider offers setup information, a usage guide and a demo route.
Who can use it: Editors; Reporting teams; Newsroom leaders. Public resource.
Cost: Free public tool.
Task: Explore the resource
Provider: Reynolds Journalism Institute and Chalkbeat
Format: Tool

Provider source for Understand whose voices your reporting includes

Guide and template

Write a Colorado public-records request

Legal, access & press freedom

Use CFOIC’s request-letter template and practical guidance to prepare a Colorado records request. Agencies may charge research or copying fees.

Public guidanceAgency fees may apply

Request public records →

Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Details

Description: Use CFOIC’s request-letter template and practical guidance to prepare a Colorado records request. Agencies may charge research or copying fees.
Who can use it: Public guidance available to anyone requesting Colorado government records.
Cost: Online guidance; records-request fees depend on the agency.
Task: Request public records
Provider: Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition
Format: Guide and template

Provider source for Write a Colorado public-records request

Not sure what to search for?

Tell CPA what you’re trying to accomplish, and staff will help point you in the right direction.

Ask CPA → For newsrooms