Rural Digital Resilience Project

Advancing public understanding of the unique

risks and challenges that America’s rural youth

and communities face on and offline.



Our work examines who has access, who has power and who is harmed in digital and civic infrastructure, journalism, and democratic processes in rural America.


We support the conditions for more resilient communities and bring a trauma-informed perspective to our community media, trainings and work with rural community members and young people in Appalachia and rural America.

Our team and collaborating organizations are pioneers in rural journalism and influential research on the platforms, processes and mechanics of on and offline harms

Documentary Screening - Raised By Wolves

“This is the first true thing I've seen about my generation.”

Do No Harm.

Trauma-informed Resources and Communities of Practice


Reporting on Appalachia

Resources to help journalists understand the deep, complicated history of this place. Explore our guides of how to cover complicated topics and browse our list of things you should read, watch, or listen to before covering Appalachia.

Reporting on Religion

Witness: Democracy, Faith Communities and Local Journalism in America is a community of practice bridging divides of mistrust, isolation and misunderstanding between three key pillars of a just, inclusive and multiracial democracy.

Reporting on Addiction

Supporting a collaboration

of addiction science experts, professional journalists and educators who want to improve the media's portrayal of

addiction and recovery with trainings and research-based resources.

Reporting on Extremism

Training, peer-support and other resources for small newsrooms and independent journalists for addressing the unique challenges, risks and potential media harms in covering political violence and extremism at the local level.

Rural Insights.

Three friends, Cabell County, West Virginia. Photo by Dennis Savage, Looking at Appalachia

Cultural Dispatch

Generation Zeitgeist - The View From Here

This monthly newsletter produced with 100 Days in Appalachia will feature cultural analyses and insight into the inner lives of Zoomers online. From memes, music and fashion to the fears, politics, tech and trends influencing our spaces. Sign up for a candid look at who we are and where we are online, written and produced by rural Gen Z.


Why Appalachia Matters

We've seen the future. It looks like Appalachia.

We believe the story of Appalachia reflects the story of our country. 100 Days amplifies the region’s diverse voices, celebrates our successes, investigates our failures and empowers our communities. Subscribe to 100 Days in Appalachia's weekly newsletters to receive insights into the latest from Appalachia, directly from Appalachians. Featuring media makers, creators and innovators throughout the region.

> Digital Safety for Young People

This series of training modules for youth, parents and caregivers empowers young people to navigate their own risks in a surveilled world, recognize who is most vulnerable, and learn how to minimize harm to themselves and peers.

Developed in collaboration with Trollbusters and Journalism That Matters

We are a founding member of the Coalition Against Online Violence, a collection of global organizations working to find better solutions for journalists, researchers and civil society facing online abuse, harassment and other forms of digital attack. View the Coalition’s step-by-step guides and key resources.