Closing Local Coverage Gaps Grant

Press Forward's initiative, 'Closing Local Coverage Gaps,' aims to tackle journalism disparities in the U.S. by funding at least 100 small local newsrooms with $100,000 each over two years. This support focuses on enhancing coverage for underserved communities, addressing the lack of representation, and promoting civic engagement. Eligible applicants include local news outlets with budgets under $1 million, emphasizing original reporting and editorial independence, to ensure diverse voices are heard and represented.

Press Forward’s first open call will address the longstanding inequalities in journalism coverage and practice in the U.S., by investing in small, local newsrooms that provide original reporting in underserved communities.
Through this Open Call on Closing Local Coverage Gaps, at least 100 newsrooms will receive around $100,000 each over two years in unrestricted funds. News organizations with budgets of up to $1 million are eligible.
In the U.S., the news media has not adequately represented, reached nor uplifted the voices of under-represented groups in their coverage. As a result, entire communities are left out of the conversation on the issues that most affect their lives, resulting in lower levels of voting and civic engagement, deeper polarization and a higher cost for government services.
Press Forward wants to ensure that local coverage meets the needs of communities of color, linguistically diverse communities, low-wealth rural communities, and others not adequately served, reached or represented. This open call offers funding to smaller news organizations that are providing the hyperlocal, original reporting people need to make important decisions.

Eligibility

This open call will invest in small, local news outlets that provide original reporting to underserved communities. Press Forward aims to reimagine local news across the country and understands that addressing this growing crisis in news and information will require a variety of solutions and models.Eligible applicants must be local news outlets focused on providing and producing original local reporting.
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:An operating budget of less than $1 million for 2024
In operation and publishing since at least September 1, 2023
A commitment to editorial excellence, editorial independence, and transparency

Ineligibility

The following types of organizations are not eligible to apply:

• Outlets in which the majority of content is not focused on local news
• Organizations with an operating budget greater than $1 million for 2024
• Start-up organizations that have not been publishing since at least September 1, 2023
• 501(c)(4) organizations