About the person behind this newsroom

Working in the news industry for 20 years as a community and audience expert, I saw a lot of fear coming from news. I decided to build my own tiny newsroom to empower the community, called The Platia.

Every free signup helps me get more volunteers at events and built more mutual aid programs.

I'm a Brooklyn native who grew up in a Mediterranean multi-generational household, the first person in my family to attend college. I've held leadership positions in major newsrooms like USA TODAY and the Wall Street Journal, and have bylines at publications like The New York Times, Vox Media, Bon Appetite, The Miami Herald, and more. After being let go from a national newsroom, I spent time with family in a mountain village in Greece. I was inspired by the way the community came together in their plaza or "plateia" to take care of each other.

I came back ready to put that into action here, to put power back in the hands of my own community.

The mission of The Platia is to use the tentpoles of mutual aid to solve neighborhood problems. There are a few ways we can work together:

• If you'd like to use any of the guides I've published, please do, link back when you can, and I'd love to see how you used them!
• If you'd like to partner on a discussion forum or training, please reach out.
• You can attend any of my events to learn about CPR, Narcan use, de-escalation, and other skills you can use to help your own neighborhood.
• I can supply your store or event with harm reduction and public health items, like overdose prevention tools, emergency contraception, free food guides, ICE information cards, and more – all free.
• I can teach your business or community group the skills of journalism, like how to file a Right-to-Know request against the city for information you are due.
• I pay for every event out of my own pocket, and if you are able to, small donations go a long way. If you donate, please Venmo me at annemarie-dooling, mention that its for The Platia and provide contact information so that I can send back information on exactly what your money went to.

Read my writing and other journalism projects here and contact me here.

My Ethics Policy

From time-to-time I might accept a free meal at a local restaurant as part of my work writing food guides. That content is designated to Instagram or freelance work published at a major publisher with my byline. Those meals do not guarantee positive writing, or any mentions in writing at all. Usually if I accept a meal, it's something new a chef wants to walk me through, or a new restaurant that might invite writers to a soft opening or to try a new menu.

I do not accept payment from restaurants or anyone in the food industry to write about them.

I do not accept free trips in exchange for travel writing. From time-to-time I might accept a toured or hosted trip to a place I might write about, specifically with my dog for dog-friendly articles. That content is usually designated to Instagram or published at a major publisher with my byline. Those trips do not guarantee positive writing, or any writing.

Beyond the built-in tools of Google and social platforms, I do not use AI on The Platia.

I accept donations from large corporations, including money and food, that go directly to the mutual aid groups I work with. That does not guarantee any writing or mentions in articles.

I do not accept money from politicians or policy-makers.