This column is part of the Indianapolis Public Editor project , a pilot program designed to test whether the presence of a public editor who analyzes local coverage can elevate audience trust in journalism and promote media literacy. Mirror Indy is the darling of the local news scene. With 22 staffers, the startup nonprofit newsroom seeks to solidify its place as a primary source of news for residents of Indianapolis. At its founding, it was pitched as a movement to include the often overlooked voices of the community. With an altruistic mission, good salaries, and attractive benefits, Mirror Indy wooed talented journalists from other local news outlets and a significant audience. Now in its third year of publication, Mirror Indy continues to grow in both reach and impact. But the stakes are high. If the news outlet fails to establish a sustainable financial future, the gamble could prove costly. The community stands to be worse off, should we lose that concentration of talent and community impact.…