{"id":152690,"date":"2019-02-19T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T14:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knightfoundation.org\/press\/releases\/knight-foundation-focuses-on-building-the-future-of-local-news-in-300-million-five-year-commitment"},"modified":"2020-07-09T18:39:34","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T22:39:34","slug":"knight-foundation-focuses-on-building-the-future-of-local-news-in-300-million-five-year-commitment","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/knightfoundation.org\/press\/releases\/knight-foundation-focuses-on-building-the-future-of-local-news-in-300-million-five-year-commitment\/","title":{"rendered":"Knight Foundation focuses on building the future of local news in $300 million, five-year commitment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For how to get involved in the initiative and support the rebuilding of local news, visit kf.org\/localnews<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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MIAMI\u2014Feb. 19, 2019\u2014The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced that it would double its investment in strengthening journalism to $300 million over five years, with a focus on building the future of local news and information, which are essential for democracy to function.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Knight called on individual and institutional funders to join in this opportunity to rebuild trust and foster sustainability in journalism, an essential democratic institution, starting on the local level. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Knight\u2019s initial investments are in scalable organizations committed to serving communities at the local level \u2014 all of which are seeking additional support. These organizations are building new business models, strengthening investigative reporting, protecting press freedom, promoting news literacy, and connecting with audiences through civic engagement and technology. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Newsrooms across the nation have been decimated by the collapse of traditional business models brought on by the impact of digital technology and social media, which have drawn readers and advertisers to other information sources on the internet. As a result, many communities have turned into news deserts, with little or no local reporting.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cWithout revenue, you can\u2019t pay reporters. Without reporters, you can\u2019t develop consistently reliable news reports about what\u2019s happening in your town. Without that reliable news report, you can\u2019t figure out how to run local government. It isn\u2019t rocket science,\u201d said Alberto Ibarg\u00fcen, Knight Foundation president. \u201cWe\u2019re not funding one-offs. We\u2019re helping to rebuild a local news ecosystem, reliable and sustainable, and we\u2019re doing it in a way that anyone who cares can participate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cReliable news and information are essential for people to make democracy work,\u201d said Jennifer Preston, Knight Foundation vice president for journalism. \u201cBy investing in projects and people with bold ideas, Knight and others who care about journalism and democracy have the opportunity to reverse years of declining trust and revenues and help build a sustainable future for local news and information in the 21st century.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>

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The initiative is an effort to find a different, collaborative, digital, local way to reliably inform Americans by supporting national organizations working in partnership on the local level. It further seeks to galvanize support from other funders and individuals across sectors for these organizations; the descriptions below contain links to learn more and support at any level.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Knight\u2019s investments aim to revive vigorous, local, investigative reporting and accountability journalism, largely by supporting national organizations working in partnership at the local level, including:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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