Press Forward distributes 20 million dollars to small local newsrooms
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Press Forward, a nonprofit organization in the U.S., distributed $20 million to 205 local newsrooms over a two-year period.
The organization targeted small outlets with annual budgets under $1 million, receiving nearly 1,000 applications for the funding. Most recipients received $100,000 split over two years to provide unrestricted support for their operations. Newsroom owners and editors used the funds to cover immediate costs like rent, payroll, and debt repayment.
Some outlets used the money to hire new staff, upgrade technology, or invest in professional development. For example, the Copper River Record in Alaska used the funds to build digital advertising infrastructure and pay for freelancer training. The World Journal in Colorado used the grant to pay staff and owner salaries during a period of financial difficulty. Despite the support, some newsrooms faced ongoing challenges. One outlet, Atlanta Civic Circle, shut down after failing to complete a required sustainability audit.
Other newsrooms struggled to find and retain employees in rural areas or found that the grant amount was insufficient to hire high-level staff at market rates. While some publishers view the funding as a vital lifeline that provided emotional relief and credibility, others expressed concern about the long-term sustainability of relying on philanthropy to keep their doors open.
