Created by Press Forward in partnership with Commoner, the JSX helps local news providers save time, find support and strengthen local news
Nov. 12, 2025 — Press Forward today announced the launch of the Journalism Support Exchange (JSX), a free matchmaking tool designed to help local news organizations find the resources and support they need faster and more effectively.
The JSX, now in beta at jsx.news, is a searchable database of more than 300 journalism support organizations (JSOs) aimed at providing a clearer, more holistic view of the resources, tools, training, and support that is available to local newsrooms across the U.S. Press Forward and Commoner created the JSX to address one of the field’s biggest challenges: a wealth of programs and resources for local newsrooms, many which are free or subsidized by philanthropic funding, but no reliable, one-stop-resource for finding them.
“We’re fortunate to have a robust field of support organizations helping local newsrooms strengthen operations, develop new products, grow revenue and increase community impact — a big change over the last two decades. But for news leaders, finding the right fit can be daunting and time consuming,” said Melissa Milios Davis, network manager at Press Forward. “Local news leaders need a better way to navigate what’s out there, and the JSX can be that connection tool.”
JSX: A Smarter Way to Find Support
The JSX is an interactive, searchable platform that helps users find resources by category, such as funding, legal help, training, technology, or partnerships, and by the size of their newsroom.
Each participating organization features a standardized “information card” outlining:
- What they offer
- Who they serve and
- How to access their programs or services
This makes it easier for local newsroom leaders to identify the right fit without hours of research or trial and error. So far, close to 100 journalism support organizations have completed detailed information cards, with dozens more expected in coming weeks.
Created With Input from the Local News Field, To Address Pain Points
In recent years, the journalism support landscape has faced criticism, with questions about its efficiency. Some have called for greater coordination, including in Commoner’s 2025 report on “The Critical Role Support Organizations Can Play in Maturing the Local News Field.” The JSX was created with field input, including an advisory group of journalism support organizations and feedback from Press Forward’s grantee newsrooms and funders.
The JSX can also be used to surface data on where organizations overlap and where gaps exist. In the coming months, Press Forward and Commoner will share some initial trends from the data set.
“The JSX gives us a real-time view of what newsrooms are looking for, in terms of support,” said Darryl Holliday, co-founder of Commoner. “For local newsrooms, it’s a shortcut to find what they need. For funders and support organizations, it’s a roadmap to understand where we’re duplicating effort—and where we can build something new together.”
Support organizations themselves can use the platform to discover coordination or collaboration opportunities, and funders can access it to make more strategic investments by seeing where support exists or is missing.
While more than 300 JSOs have been identified with cards in the JSX, not all yet have complete information about all of their offerings. Journalism support organizations can add details to their card by logging into the JSX with their organization’s email address, verifying their email login, and claiming their profile to edit.
If an organization is not yet listed in the JSX, leaders can visit the homepage and select “Add your organization.” Once submitted, all entries are vetted and approved by the JSX team.
About Press Forward
Press Forward is a network with chapters nationwide, working to strengthen local news so communities stay informed, connected and engaged. With more than 40 place-based chapters and over $400 million invested, we support sustainable models, close coverage gaps, and cultivate the local news champions that help ensure everyone has access to reliable information. Together, we can write a new story for local news. More at pressforward.news.
About Commoner
Commoner is a civic impact consultancy making civic life more accessible and inspired. We bring mission-driven organizations, philanthropies and communities together to turn ambitious ideas into actionable work. Through research, design, facilitation and strategic communications, Commoner supports civic catalysts working to improve public services, institutions and policies across the United States. Founded by Darryl Holliday and Anika Anand, Commoner Company serves as builders, trusted brokers and thought-partners to journalism and civic institutions in pursuit of civic renewal in the U.S.