Knight Foundation doubling spending to boost local news

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Knight Foundation doubling spending to boost local news

By DAVID BAUDER
February 19, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — The Knight Foundation says it will invest $300 million in local journalism over the next five years, seeding several programs designed to kick-start an industry decimated by layoffs and newspaper closures over the last 15 years.

The plans, announced Tuesday, will double the amount of spending the foundation started by newspaper publisher brothers John S. and James L. Knight has been making in this area over the past few years.

Among the beneficiaries are the American Journalism Project, which provides grants to local nonprofit news organizations; the investigative site ProPublica; Report for America, a service organization that pays for the hiring of local journalists; and PBS’ “Frontline,” the documentary program that’s making its first foray into local news.

“What this initiative aims to do is really help build a future for local news,” said Jennifer Preston, vice president for journalism at the Knight Foundation.

A spate of philanthropic efforts, including a $300 million initiative announced by Facebook last month, has drawn attention to how declining profits and readership has bled local journalism. Nearly 1,800 weekly and daily newspapers have closed since 2004, and the number of working journalists has been cut in half during that period, according to a University of North Carolina study.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/ca9fc2faabf3490497f302c5cf932f3c

[mia]

1. The Documenters Program would be an ideal job for some of us.

...Knight has also supported the Documenters Program, started by the City Bureau in Chicago, where citizens are trained by journalists and dispatched to cover local government meetings. The project is expanding to other cities.

That effort, however, illustrates the challenges faced by philanthropists. Funding specific investigative projects has its worth, but the impact of cutbacks is seen — or, more accurately, not seen — in the thousands of state, city and town government organizations whose meetings are no longer attended by reporters on a regular basis.

Recovering what has been lost by the thousands of journalists no longer on the beat requires fundamental changes in the business of local journalism. Preston said Knight recognizes this and is funding efforts designed to develop more sustainable business models.

“We are at a critical juncture at this moment in time to make these investments at a local level to help rebuild trust in journalism, one community at a time,” she said.

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20190219/news/302199972/

I'd work for free or donate to a group like this.

https://www.documenters.org/

[mia]

2. Please share your post

in General Discussion and Latest Breaking News.

I was lucky to see your OP, as it was on my Latest Threads page when I first signed on this morning.

[Eugene]

3. Now posted to LBN.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142269383

[mia]

4. Thank you.