October 15, 2025

Pop-Up Newsroom Encourages Community Engagement in Dallas

South Dallas, October 15, 2025

News Summary

A temporary pop-up newsroom has opened in South Dallas, providing a platform for local residents to share news ideas and discuss community concerns with over a dozen journalists. Located at The Hub, affiliated with St. Philip’s School, the office will operate from October 14-16, inviting visitors to share thoughts on news coverage while receiving free snacks, swag, and professional headshots. This initiative aims to strengthen community ties and increase civic participation in regional reporting.

Dallas — More than a dozen journalists are operating a pop-up newsroom in South Dallas, offering local residents an opportunity to share news ideas and discuss community issues directly with reporters.

Key details

The temporary office is located at The Hub, affiliated with St. Philip’s School and Community Center at 1612 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The pop-up newsroom will be open for three days from October 14-16, 2023, with staff on site from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the specified dates.

Purpose and participation

Community members are invited to visit the newsroom to share thoughts and ideas on news coverage. Journalists will be available to hear story ideas and discuss local issues with visitors. Visitors can also receive free swag, snacks, and a professional headshot while engaging with newsroom staff.

Local engagement

Lori Haynes-Patton, program facilitator of Youth Revive, was the first community member to visit the newsroom. Haynes-Patton shared insights about Youth Revive programs that help close the civic empowerment gap for students in low-income communities. The events at The Hub are intended to surface community priorities, strengthen relationships and generate story ideas grounded in residents’ concerns.

Organizational context

This effort is part of a broader initiative called “Future of North Texas,” a community-funded journalism initiative supported by various foundations and organizations, including the Commit Partnership and Communities Foundation of Texas. The initiative aims to enhance engagement and build trust between the newsroom and local communities across North Texas. The news organization retains full editorial control of the coverage generated from this initiative.

Operations and staffing

More than a dozen journalists are operating the temporary newsroom as a short-term, in-person outreach effort. Staff will use the three-day window to meet residents face-to-face, gather reporting leads and explain how community input can shape future coverage. The Hub, affiliated with St. Philip’s School and Community Center, is serving as the public-facing site for those interactions.

Why this matters

Organizers framed the pop-up newsroom as a way to connect newsroom resources with neighborhoods that may have lower engagement with regional reporting. By hosting reporters in a community-centered location, the effort seeks to lower barriers to participation, encourage civic conversation and identify topics that matter to residents across North Texas.

Logistics for visitors

The pop-up newsroom will be open for three days from October 14-16, 2023.
The Hub will host newsroom staff from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the specified dates.
Community members are invited to visit the newsroom to share thoughts and ideas on news coverage.
Visitors can also receive free swag, snacks, and a professional headshot.

Next steps and follow-up

Journalists collecting story ideas during the pop-up are expected to use those conversations to inform future reporting. The partnership model backing the effort is community-funded, with multiple philanthropic organizations supporting the broader initiative. While the pop-up is scheduled for three days, the organizers indicated the event is one element of ongoing plans to increase engagement and trust with communities across the region.

FAQ

Who is operating the pop-up newsroom?: More than a dozen journalists are operating a pop-up newsroom in South Dallas.
Where is the temporary office located?: The temporary office is located at The Hub, affiliated with St. Philip’s School and Community Center at 1612 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
When will the pop-up newsroom be open?: The pop-up newsroom will be open for three days from October 14-16, 2023.
Can community members visit?: Community members are invited to visit the newsroom to share thoughts and ideas on news coverage.
Are there any offerings for visitors?: Visitors can also receive free swag, snacks, and a professional headshot.
Who was the first community member to visit?: Lori Haynes-Patton, program facilitator of Youth Revive, was the first community member to visit the newsroom.
What did the first visitor share?: Haynes-Patton shared insights about Youth Revive programs that help close the civic empowerment gap for students in low-income communities.
What is the broader goal of the initiative?: The initiative aims to enhance engagement and build trust between the newsroom and local communities across North Texas.
What did the managing editor emphasize?: Amy Hollyfield, managing editor, emphasized the goal of building trust and community engagement through this effort.
Will journalists be available to talk with visitors?: Journalists will be available to hear story ideas and discuss local issues with visitors.
What are the daily hours during the pop-up?: The Hub will host newsroom staff from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the specified dates.
What larger initiative is this part of?: The event is part of “Future of North Texas,” a community-funded journalism initiative supported by various foundations and organizations, including the Commit Partnership and Communities Foundation of Texas.
Who controls the coverage produced?: The news organization retains full editorial control of the coverage generated from this initiative.

Pop-up newsroom key features
Feature	Detail
Staffing	More than a dozen journalists are operating a pop-up newsroom in South Dallas
Location	The temporary office is located at The Hub, affiliated with St. Philip’s School and Community Center at 1612 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Dates	The pop-up newsroom will be open for three days from October 14-16, 2023
Hours	The Hub will host newsroom staff from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the specified dates
Visitor offerings	Visitors can also receive free swag, snacks, and a professional headshot

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Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER

DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.

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