At Tiny News Collective, we know that no two newsrooms — or newsroom founders or leaders — are exactly alike. As our community grows, so does the need for more tailored spaces where members can learn from each other, reflect on their distinct challenges and build relationships with peers walking similar paths. 

That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce Hives, our new peer learning groups launching this fall. In naming these groups, we were inspired by Jennifer Brandel’s recent post about “hexagon people,” in which she describes hexagons as one of the strongest shapes in nature. Interlocking hexagons are the building blocks of the honeycombs of beehives, and they help maximize efficiency and reduce waste. Our Hives are designed to support members with shared organizational models or challenges through expert-facilitated, lightly structured cohorts that foster reflection, connection and collective problem-solving.

Each Hive is a small, focused community of practice made up of members navigating similar realities — like running a solo newsroom or sharing leadership responsibilities. With guidance from an expert facilitator and support from TNC staff, Hives offer a flexible but intentional format through synchronous and asynchronous engagements shaped by surveys and other feedback from members. These aren’t training or coaching sessions — they’re spaces to be in community, hear what others are trying, and surface the tools, ideas and resources that will help founders thrive.

“We are delighted to launch Hives at TNC,” said Elaine Díaz Rodríguez, membership director at Tiny News. “We think this will give founders a safe space with like-minded people to share their triumphs and travails in community. Running a news startup can be lonely, and we are designing Hives to give them the support they need, with a trusted facilitator.”

The first two Hives launching in 2025 will focus on two of the most common organizational structures in our network: Solopreneurs and Co-Leadership models. We’ve heard clearly that members are craving support, not in the form of more to-do lists, but through thought partnership, shared learning and simply having a space to say, “I’m figuring this out, too.”

The Solopreneurs Hive, facilitated by Love Now Media founder Jos Duncan-Asé, is for members who are doing it all — reporting, community engagement, running the business, etc. — often without a local peer network. Whether a founder has just launched an outlet or has been going it alone for a while, this Hive is a space to share strategies, ask questions and build relationships with other solo founders. 

The Co-Leadership Hive, launching September 25 and facilitated by City Bureau co-founder Harry Backlund, is for members who are co-founders or part of collective, worker-led newsrooms. This Hive will focus on navigating shared decision making, dividing responsibilities and building durable, healthy co-leadership structures. It’s for pairs, teams and anyone exploring or currently practicing more democratic newsroom governance. Like the Solopreneurs Hive, this group will be shaped by the goals and queries of those who join.

We’re keeping the structure intentionally light, so members can shape the experience together. These first two Hives are pilots, and we plan to launch more as we understand what works best. We’ll share more widely with the journalism ecosystem what we discover through this new programming.

“Hives are about creating spaces for mutual aid, learning and reflection — spaces where members can show up with openness and curiosity, support one another and come away with ideas and insights they didn’t even know they were looking for,” said Amy L. Kovac-Ashley, executive director of TNC. “We can’t wait to learn with our members.”