Overview: The Miami Foundation has launched Press Forward, a national initiative aimed at strengthening communities and democracy by supporting local news over the next five years. The initiative has awarded grants to several newsrooms, including Black Voice News, which has received a $100,000 grant over two years. The initiative aims to strengthen local newsrooms, close gaps in news coverage, and support public policy that expands access to local news. The initiative identified several priorities, including strengthening local newsrooms that have the trust of local communities and closing longstanding inequalities in journalism coverage and practice.
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In an effort to address the rapid decline of local news coverage and engage readers with local news, last year a coalition of funders launched Press Forward, a national initiative that aims to strengthen communities and democracy by supporting local news over the next five years.
Press Forward is investing $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms, close gaps in news coverage and support public policy that expands access to local news. As part of this effort, Press Forward has awarded grants to several newsrooms in a first round of funding at the local level.
Black Voice News is one of the 205 newsrooms that has been awarded a grant of $100,000 over two years to support local news coverage.
Motivated by the extraordinary quality and number proposals, Press Forward funded twice as many news organizations as it originally anticipated through its first open call. More than 900 proposals were submitted. Selected newsrooms are a bright mosaic of independent, non-partisan sources that are reimagining what local news looks like across America.
“We are thrilled to be among some of the country’s best local news organizations providing vital information to regions like ours,” said Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, publisher of Black Voice News, one of 18 news organizations awarded in California. “Our Press Forward grant funding will support community engagement, one of our key strategies for sustainability, which will also bolster our reporting and increase our editorial impact.”
Press Forward identified several priorities and has committed to making grants in focus areas such as strengthening local newsrooms that have the trust of local communities and closing long standing inequalities in journalism coverage and practice.
According to a Pew Research Center 2024 survey, “most Black adults say it is extremely or very important that journalists and reporters cover all sides of the issues (76%) and understand the history of the issues (73%) when covering Black people. Many also say it is crucial for journalists to personally engage with the people they cover (59%) and to advocate for Black people (48%).”
Across California, there are 525 news outlets — 126 of which are ethnic media outlets, according to the Local News Initiative. In Riverside County, the fourth largest county in the state, there are just 20 news outlets, seven of which are ethnic media. Although the largest county in the U.S. in size, San Bernardino County is home to just 28 news outlets, five of which are ethnic media outlets. Black Voice News is one local news organization that has spent more than 50 years covering local and statewide news that impacts Black communities in the Inland Empire.
“These newsrooms are proof that we are seeing a moment of transformation, where new and longstanding are stepping up to create a new story for local news,” said Dale R. Anglin, Director, Press Forward in a press release. “Each newsroom plays a vital public service role in its community – providing trustworthy local news and information in places where no other sources may exist. Independent newsrooms need community support to survive. We hope that more people will subscribe and donate to them.”Press Forward worked with 113 reviewers from journalism and philanthropy, evaluated applications, and chose the ones that best fit their criteria. Visit: https://www.pressforward.news/grantees/ to learn more about the initiative and the winners.