Press Forward just launched its first open call for funding, deliberately focusing on bridging the significant gaps in local news coverage. This initiative isn’t merely about financial support; it’s about revitalizing communities through empowered storytelling, particularly in areas that have suffered from chronic underrepresentation.
As journalists know well, at the heart of thriving democracies lies robust civic news and local media. Each plays a crucial role in keeping communities informed, connected, and engaged. Yet for far too long, certain communities have not been properly reflected in nor authors of local news. Press Forward wants to ensure that local coverage meets the needs of communities of color, linguistically diverse communities, low-wealth rural communities, and others not adequately served, reached, or represented.
Having that coverage means employing diverse staffs that reflect the people they serve. That’s not just about providing feel-good numbers. It’s about providing better journalism that truly serves our democracy.
Our current open call specifically targets smaller news organizations — both nonprofit and for-profit — with annual budgets under $1 million. These outlets are pivotal to their communities for producing impactful civic news and original reporting and are often founded by social entrepreneurs driven by a mission to serve, inform and create an impact. They are also one of the fastest-growing portions of the field. According to the Institute for Nonprofit News, local nonprofit news organizations launch at an average rate of one per month. Over 30% of INN and the Local Independent Online News Publishers’ membership bases are news outlets less than three years old. By specifically targeting small newsrooms, we are meeting the field where it is at this moment in time.
For this open call, applicants’ success hinges on their ability to deeply understand and adapt to their evolving communities. We aren’t looking for news organizations that are replicating the models of the past. We are looking for news outlets, new and enduring, that go beyond providing information to act as community builders willing to serve the public in new ways.
We are also looking for news organizations that seek to collaborate, share challenges, and best practices, and actively pursue sustainable business models. We seek applicants that can serve as models for others.
And we are deliberately applying best practices in philanthropy to this open call, including offering general operating support and multiyear grants, providing multiple information sessions, a shortened application process and fundraising coaches to help those new to applying for funding. We also are ensuring civic news and journalism practitioners will review the applications alongside funders and will receive a stipend for their time.
Many people view Press Forward as a fund created in response to the immediate crisis in local journalism. We are, however much more: Press Forward is spearheading a movement to ensure the sustainability of local news. With now 57 funders and 17 local chapters across 14 states — and growing — we are nurturing a community of support that transcends mere financial assistance, one that will outlast our five years in existence. It’s the movement we need to ensure a bright future for local news.
Our donors range from local news novices to those significantly increasing their commitments, highlighting a broad-based endorsement of our mission. They are connecting across levels of experiences and exchanging insights in our relatively new field of journalism philanthropy.
If your organization doesn’t qualify for this call, do not be disheartened. A subsequent open call in the fall will focus on transformative approaches to local journalism. Press Forward will also hold additional open calls in the future. Meanwhile, we encourage every organization to engage with us through our grantmaking platform JustFund, where you can create a profile about your mission and work that will be accessible to all funders in Press Forward’s coalition. You can learn more about that process on our site.
There is no one solution to the local news crisis. Multiple strategies are needed. This is why Press Forward is not alone in this endeavor. We commend the efforts of policymakers and public entities investing in local journalism through grants, fellowships, and supportive legislation. We are thankful, too, to our coalition of funders and our partners who have helped us shape this open call.
Together, we are not just filling gaps — we are constructing bridges.
We urge potential applicants and those yet to qualify to apply now or to establish a presence by creating a Press Forward profile via the Just Fund platform. Engage with us on social media, visit our website for insights, and join a movement that promises to reimagine and revitalize local journalism. This is our generation’s chance to address a 25-year-old challenge head-on. We can’t afford not to try.
