Our purpose
The Community News Lab at the University of Rhode Island’s Harrington School pairs student reporters with media partners to bring objective reporting to news desert communities in Rhode Island. Staffed with nine students from the Department of Public Relations and Journalism, the News Lab covers five towns that lack full-time news coverage: Richmond, Hopkinton, West Greenwich, Exeter, and Charlestown. In addition, students report on areas of importance to southern Rhode Islanders, including the environment, regional education, planning/development and elections. The News Lab supplies stories to newspapers in the R.I. Media Group, including The Westerly Sun,The Kent County Daily Times, The Independent, The Narragansett Times, and The Standard-Pendulum. It also belongs to the R.I. News Collaborative, which includes the R.I. Current, EcoRI, Ocean State Stories, EG News, RI News Today and the Providence Eye.
Who we are
The URI Department of Public Relations and Journalism, chaired by Daniel S. Hunt, is dedicated to providing students with professional experiences. Students in the department get real-world journalism experience in classes like Public Affairs Reporting and Writing, and Electronic News Gathering; internships in print, digital and broadcast journalism; and the News Lab. The department faculty includes award-winning photographers and documentary filmmakers, a scholar in computer-assisted reporting, and a longtime news reporter and editor. The News Lab editor is journalism instructor Betty J. Cotter. Maia Hembruff is the student editor/fact-checker.
News Lab reporters
Topics:
Gabriel Anthony, Richmond plus elections
Sadie Brandt, Exeter and the environment
Aria Garcia-Torres, Charlestown and the environment
Aida Delano, Hopkinton and Washington County Superior Court
Mel Eusebio, Hopkinton and housing/development
Caroline McCullough, Exeter plus agriculture and arts & culture
Emily Morgan, Richmond plus Chariho School District and elections
Bryana Sulinski, West Greenwich and the West Greenwich/Exeter School District
In the news
Student Journalists Tackle Local Beats
Demolition of Cross Mills fire barn expected this summer - By Johnny Ochsenfeld/Before demolition begins, an environmental survey will ensure that nearby water bodies won't be affected.- Residents get sticker shock over Hopkinton revaluation numbers - By Aida Delano/Residential properties saw a median increase of 30% in the latest statistical revaluation.
- School Committee seeking redress over Wawaloam playground - By Aria Garcia-Torres/Wawaloam Elementary School playground is plagued with drainage issues, prompting a dispute with the contractor.
- When snow melts, potholes emerge - By Megan Wallitsch/The snowy winter left craters in its wake on local roads, and options are few for fixing them until asphalt plants reopen.
- Blizzard of ’26 cost Westerly $100K - By Gabriel Anthony/Snow plowing and removal costs in Westerly from the Feb. 23 blizzard totaled $129,060.
- Snow plowing budgets took a hit before blizzard - By Gabriel Anthony and Mel Eusebio/Even before Blizzard of '26, towns were feeling the strain to their snow plowing budgets.
- Residents push back on solar application - By Aida Delano/Residents complained about impact on abutters and natural resources at solar hearing in Hopkinton March 4.
Contact
If interested in partnering with Community News Lab or sharing news tips with the editor, please email newslabeditor@uri.edu.
