Hearken joins Indiegraf to build the Operating System for independent local media

If you run a local newsroom, you already know the ground is shifting. AI-generated search summaries are cutting into traffic, Big Tech's engagement rules keep changing, and the old playbook—grow an audience, monetize through ads and clicks—is getting harder to sustain.

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That's why we're excited to announce that Indiegraf has acquired Hearken, an organization that has spent over a decade leading the industry in the shift from reach to relationships. Hearken pioneered public-powered journalism, a methodology built on a simple insight: when someone participates in shaping a story, they're far more likely to subscribe, return and support the newsroom. 

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Through their Engagement Management System (EMS), your audience can submit questions that directly shape your coverage, vote on the stories that matter most to them and read the reporting that came from their curiosity, converting casual visitors into newsletter subscribers and paying supporters at rates 2–5x higher than standard newsroom averages. Reach is a vanity metric; relationships are a revenue strategy.

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“As a long-time superfan of Jenn’s work innovating journalism and startup practices, I’m deeply honoured that she has chosen to trust Indiegraf to provide a new home for Hearken,” says Erin Millar, CEO of Indiegraf. “For those of us in the trenches of independent local journalism in 2026, building unshakable relationships with our communities isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ engagement side project anymore; it is existential,”

Founded in 2015 by Jennifer Brandel, Hearken has spent a decade helping newsrooms globally—including the CBC, Associated Press and Mother Jones—build trust by involving the public in the reporting process. This public-powered approach will now be accessible to the hundreds of community-focused newsrooms in the Indiegraf network.

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“When we started Hearken, we knew that the public could play a more important and participatory role in shaping journalism beyond being consumers. And that in doing so, the outcomes would be better for all involved. Joining forces with Indiegraf can help more newsrooms achieve what we’ve seen through numerous studies: public-powered journalism is good for communities and news outlet’s bottom line,” says Brandel. 

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As part of the integration, Bridget Thoreson, a long-time Hearken leader, joins Indiegraf as Director of Local Media Partnerships. Her expertise will ensure that newsrooms don’t just have access to the tools, but the strategic support necessary to drive impact and revenue.

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“One of the biggest challenges of collaborations is clarity around the mission, which is exactly what the Indiegraf network provides. Everyone brings different strengths to the table in a collaboration for the benefit of all, no matter their newsroom’s size. What matters isn’t your organizational budget or staff size—it’s what your work will make possible when you have the support you deserve,” says Thoreson.  

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Starting in March 2026, the Hearken EMS will be available as a core feature of the new Indiegraf OS Full tier, or as a standalone tool for publishers outside the core Indiegraf ecosystem to purchase. 

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“Indiegraf publishers are a special bunch—they are values and mission driven, entrepreneurial and singularly focused on serving their communities. We’re thrilled to be serving like-minded people who care about the same things we do and are motivated by helping communities better understand themselves and act collectively toward better futures,” says Brandel.  

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About Indiegraf

Indiegraf is the operating system for independent local media. Our value is defending journalism independence through revenue diversification, audience relationships, collaboration and real support from real people.

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Media Contact:

Erin Millar 

CEO, Indiegraf

erin@indiegraf.com

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By the way: If you'll be in Chicago for ONA, we’d love to include you in a special Indiegraf gathering on March 31: sign up here to indicate your interest in attending. Space is limited, so priority will be given to current Indiegraf network partners.