Biggest Success Factors

Involving the community has been instrumental in enabling Dublin Inquirer to initiate innovative and sustainable projects, contributing to its uniqueness. Civic tech initiatives such as the Collision Tracker and the Council Tracker would not have been possible without community assistance. Embracing partnerships and maintaining flexibility are identified as major success factors by Lois Kapila. Rather than seeking full ownership of projects, the Inquirer prioritizes equitable collaboration, ensuring that partnerships are mutually beneficial.

While community support with building a tech stack and web development has been crucial in the past, Dublin Inquirer now relies on Newspack, a CMS specialized for independent publishers. Despite its costliness, Kapila describes Newspack as essential for their success, offering adaptability and excellent emergency support. With no technical background in the core team, Newspack has been pivotal in enabling their operations.

Agility and spontaneity also play key roles in the Inquirer's success. Maintaining an informal and accessible approach, as described by Kapila, allows for the swift execution of projects. This approach facilitated the development of initiatives like the Collision Tracker, which emerged from informal collaborations such as a WhatsApp group with traffic experts. While the absence of a comprehensive strategy presents challenges, it has also fostered creative solutions that define Dublin Inquirer and distinguish it from other organizations.