From Local Newsroom to Digital Continent: Telling Catholic Stories that Stand Out

Presenter: Mary Shovlain, Lead Content Producer – The Good Newsroom

News from Rome, Washington, and across the globe reaches audiences instantly. For Catholic outlets at the diocesan and regional level, the challenge is not just to cover these stories but to do so in a way that stands out. This session will show how local Catholic newsrooms can produce coverage that is timely and rooted in their communities. Doing so is part of evangelizing the “digital continent,” where many encounter the Church today. Participants will learn how to find local angles in global and national news, lift up community voices, and provide context that larger outlets may overlook. Drawing on experience covering papal conclaves, Vatican events, and major Church issues in the United States, this presentation will highlight how Catholic journalists can combine accuracy with creativity, ensuring their outlets remain both relevant and mission-driven.

Key Elements

• Finding local angles in national and international stories
• Elevating parish and community voices
• Providing overlooked context and perspective
• Building trust with a distinctive regional voice
• Using journalism to evangelize the “digital continent”