Without legal protections, safety protocols, or revenue tools, local journalists cannot do their jobs. Though no one sees them on the front page of the newspaper, services and systems like these make up the infrastructure that newsrooms need in every community.
Press Forward announced that its Open Call for Infrastructure grants will support 22 projects with a total of $22.7 million to meet the challenges of operating in today’s environment. The projects tackle a range of infrastructure needs, including:
- Creating playbooks and tools to help newsrooms prepare for and cover crises in their communities
- Providing legal support to newsrooms to protect a free and independent press
- Expanding training and protocols to help journalists stay safe in the field
- Helping newsrooms refine financial and back-office practices for long-term sustainability
- Supporting journalists with training and fundraising in communities with limited news access
- Developing tech that helps analyze and access records and answer reader questions
- Fostering collaboration between newsrooms to help hyper-local and rural outlets thrive
Learn more about the awardees and how they are creating systems and services journalists need right now.
Photo: Luisa Ortiz Pérez, MDRnet's leader reporting in the field—where storytelling meets lived experience. Credit: Alberto Mendoza
