By BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Cub of Los Alamos

The Kiwanis Cub of Los Alamos was treated to a presentation at its March 3 meeting from Boomtown news outlet co-founders Stephanie Nakhleh, Minesh Bacrania and Sam McRae. They gave a look into the type of journalism they are endeavoring to bring to Los Alamos.

Bacrania, a freelance photographer, started off with introducing the group and then turning the mike over to Nakhleh who showed several Los Alamos Monitor front-page stories from 30 years ago when she was working as a beat reporter. They included a large and diverse amount of local news such as: “Rabid ringtail attacks people at Bandelier”, “Tensions involving promotions and safety are ‘ripping out the heart’ of Los Alamos Fire Department”, “Family tries to face Los Alamos winter in tent”, and “Coyote attacks 16-month-old”. She said that each day brought something unexpected and sometimes tragic.

Nakhleh added that these stories all come from a time when “newsrooms thrived, fueled by (relatively) ample resources and sufficient staff”. Since 2005, the US has lost nearly 2,900 newspapers. Advertising that kept newspapers in business has left and gone to the internet and social media. She said that more than half of US counties now have limited access to local news, but was appreciative that Los Alamos has been able to keep local news alive with two daily news outlets.

Boomtown is not trying to recreate the Monitor or to compete with the existing outlets, but rather provide in depth reporting, uncovering the community’s hidden issues. Nakhleh expressed some of these issues as questions: “Why do the most vulnerable among us suffer as more wealth floods in around us? Are low-income residents living in conditions that threaten their safety and well-being? How much more dangerous is the daily commute? Are there homeless people in Los Alamos? What burdens weigh on our teenagers, and what struggles do our elders face? Is our health care adequate to our needs? Are we really out of room to build housing, or is that problem a political one?”.

McRae then explained their Substack decentralized newsletter model platform. Substack empowers journalists to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and connect directly with their subscribers. Reporters can delve into stories that matter most to their communities without the constraints of corporate ownership or editorial interference. If the audience wants more, they can either subscribe for free or opt for a paid subscription that allows for dialog and feedback.

Nakhleh continued “Local news across the country and in Los Alamos has taken a hit, but through platforms like Boomtown on Substack, we have an opportunity to reclaim the fourth pillar of democracy. This is our town, our story, and our future.”

Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos heard from Boomtown news outlet co-founder Stephanie Nakhleh during its meeting March 3 at Trinity on the Hill Church. Courtesy/Kiwanis 

Kiwanis Cub of Los Alamos heard from Boomtown news outlet co-founder Sam McRae during its meeting March 3 at Trinity on the Hill Church. Courtesy/Kiwanis 

Kiwanis Club heard from Boomtown news outlet co-founder Minesh Bacrania during its meeting March 3 at Trinity on the Hill Church. Courtesy/Kiwanis