A LinkedIn Profile View That Made Me Think About Trust

One of the things I do while sitting in a dialysis chair, waiting for a doctor's appointment, or enjoying my usual Chipotle Mexican Grill Sofritas Burrito Bowl (extra white rice, no beans) is catch up on my LinkedIn notifications.

Today, one notification caught my attention.

I noticed that Tiffany Krenek, Co-Owner of My Neighborhood News, viewed my profile.

If you're not familiar with My Neighborhood News, it's a publication serving the Greater Houston area, with a mission to connect local residents and communities. One word that stood out to me while reading about the organization was "trusted."

Trust.

That's a powerful word.

It's also something I've been writing about extensively regarding Nextdoor.

Over the past month, I've documented what I believe are inconsistencies in moderation, unanswered questions about the unpaid moderator model and executive accountability, and my ongoing request for research methodology, which has now gone unanswered for weeks.

It's entirely possible that Tiffany viewed my profile because of one of my comments on LinkedIn.

So, Tiffany, if you happen to read this...

You have an opportunity that local journalism should embrace.

Ask the difficult questions.

Ask about the unpaid moderator model.

Ask how moderation decisions are reviewed for consistency.

Ask why published research requests can go unanswered for weeks.

Ask how executive compensation aligns with company performance.

Those questions may not make you the most popular person with Nextdoor.

But asking thoughtful, evidence-based questions is one way journalists and publishers build trust with their readers.

Trust isn't built by avoiding difficult conversations.

It's built by having them.

And whether it's Nextdoor or any other company, accountability begins with someone willing to ask the next question.

Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.