About The Melody
About The Macon Melody
The Macon Melody is a nonprofit community newsroom founded in 2024 by the National Trust for Local News — a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving America’s local newspapers, building brighter futures for them and better serving readers in the process.
Named for Macon’s enormous influence on American music, The Melody is the premier community news source in Macon-Bibb County and the flagship newsroom of the Georgia Trust for Local News. We are also a national innovation lab, testing scalable models and tools for strengthening local journalism across the country.
Who We Are
We are professional journalists with deep local knowledge and strong editorial standards.
Our reporters cover the beats that matter most to Middle Georgia — government and politics, public safety and justice, education and youth, business, housing and development, health and environment, arts and culture, and sports.
We believe Macon deserves watchdog journalism that holds power accountable, civic coverage that keeps residents informed, and storytelling that reflects the richness and complexity of this community.
Why We Exist
Local news has collapsed in communities across America. The Macon Melody was built to fill that void — not as a temporary fix, but as a sustainable model for the future of local journalism. Supported by readers, donors and philanthropy, we are accountable to the community we serve, not to advertisers or political interests.
How We Reach You
The Melody delivers journalism across multiple platforms: our website, The Riff weekday newsletter, the Macon in a Minute video series, print and social media. We meet our readers where they are.
Community Partnerships
The Macon Melody is a proud partner in the Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism at Mercer University. Through the partnership, we work alongside other local media organizations — pooling resources, sharing reporting and tackling stories that benefit from a broader coalition of newsrooms. The collaboration reflects our belief that strong local journalism is not a competition; it is a shared civic mission. By working together, Macon’s news organizations can go deeper, reach wider and better serve the community we all call home.
How We Are Funded
The Macon Melody is supported by reader revenue, advertising sales and a landmark investment from the Knight Foundation. Additional investments from private foundations — including the Peyton Anderson Foundation — fund newsroom positions and make continued growth possible.
Editorial Independence
The Macon Melody maintains a strict separation between news coverage and funding sources. Advertisers, donors and partners do not influence editorial content — period. Our journalists and editors make all coverage decisions independently, guided by the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
Corrections Policy
The Macon Melody strives for accuracy in all coverage. When factual errors occur, we correct them promptly and transparently — online and in print when warranted. Readers may submit correction requests to joshua@maconmelody.com.
Our Commitment
We follow the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. We believe in doing what is right every time — not just when it is convenient. Our editorial independence is non-negotiable, and our ultimate accountability is to the people of Macon-Bibb County.
The Melody is reporting for Macon, from Macon.