With a population just under 400,000, Wichita is Kansas’s largest city. Nationally, though, it ranks 50th in size — big enough to be a hub, but not always large enough to attract national attention or funding. That presents unique challenges when it comes to supporting local journalism: fewer resources, limited access to national networks, and reduced opportunities for journalists. But … Read More
An impact snapshot from a Press Forward grantee newsroom. Who: Kerry Semrad, general manager, KZUM Community Radio Where: Lincoln, Neb. and surrounding communities of Lancaster County. What: Nonprofit, listener-supported community radio station that has been broadcasting since 1978, with a mission of educating and building community through independent voices. The station’s 100+ volunteers produce more than 7,000 hours of … Read More
An impact spotlight from a Press Forward grantee newsroom. Who: Alex Bloomingdale (a.k.a. Blazedale), publisher; Javier Cabral, editor, L.A. TACO. What: Founded in 2006, L.A. TACO is an independently owned and operated digital publisher, with news stories that cover Los Angeles’ most underserved communities. There are features on L.A.’s underground culture and everyday heroes in the city, along with a … Read More
Note: This piece is part of a series on how Press Forward’s funder coalition is investing according to the initiative’s four investment priorities: local news sustainability, equity, infrastructure and public policy. Our first piece covered infrastructure, our second one covered policy and this one puts the focus on sustainability and the importance of independent local news outlets becoming financially viable … Read More
Impact snapshot from a Press Forward grantee newsroom Who: Allison Sayer, editor, Copper River Record What: A weekly newspaper that connects the far flung communities within the Copper Basin in south-central Alaska, highlighting people and places that make the region unique, and informing readers about developments that could impact their lives. The paper reports on a variety of topics including … Read More
Even as the foundation spends down, it leads the way with a local Press Forward chapter By Mark Glaser Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn. ―Ralph Waldo Emerson There’s an idea that every ending can also bring a new beginning. And in the case of the James B. McClatchy Foundation (JBMF), a longtime funder in California’s Central … Read More
