Through an innovative partnership with The Common Language Project, Next Door Media is publishing a series of multimedia stories produced by students in University of Washington’s entrepreneurial journalism class.

“Next Door Media and the Common Language Project are two of the futures of journalism in America,” said David Dokme, chair of the UW Department of Communication. “Bringing them together is a win-win for citizens and for the communities in which they live. I can’t wait to see the innovative things this partnership creates.”

The enterprise stories take an in-depth look at issues impacting North Seattle neighborhoods, including an inside look at Ballard’s homeless population, Facebook activism at the Woodland Park Zoo, and an interactive examination of the controversy surrounding the missing link of the Burke-Gilman trail. Six stories in all will be posted across all of Next Door Media’s eight neighborhood news sites over the next several weeks.

“This partnership provides the perfect opportunity for students to hone their multimedia skills while reporting for one of the country’s most successful new local media outlets, said Jessica Partnow, executive director of The Common Language Project, a nonprofit organization. “We set them loose on North Seattle and are thrilled with the diversity of mediums and stories they came up with.”

For the last few months, Common Language Project’s award-winning team of journalists provided students with multimedia instruction and insight in an entrepreneurial journalism class at the UW’s Department of Communication. The students’ stories feature a wide range of interactive media including video, slideshows, timelines and maps.

“These stories bring a new dimension in neighborhood storytelling to Next Door Media,” said Kate Bergman, co-founder of the network. “They provide an in-depth, regional look at North Seattle issues with an engaging mix of media. We’re excited to provide a platform for the next generation of journalism.”

Next Door Media and the Common Language Project are working together on a new round of stories tied to a journalism class this summer at the University of Washington.