> volunteer non profit news organization [...] skilled journalists

This could maybe be done with retirees or those who are mostly financially independent, as well as those who want to help run the nonprofit.

The problem is that in the current climate, it is harder both to retire and to become financially independent.

If you want the labor of skilled journalists beyond a trickle of content from the ivory tower type, you either need to set up an intentional community or simply pay people enough to live on. I don't see any clear shortcuts. Quality output requires sufficient energy inputs.