Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news, announced today that it has selected The JOLT News Organization to receive a challenge grant to support our reporting in Thurston County.
The JOLT is one of 205 small, local news outlets - including at least one in every U.S. state - receiving a share of $20 million to close persistent coverage gaps. The JOLT will receive $50,000 in 2024 and 2025 and is dedicating the funds to cover part of the cost of employing a full-time managing editor.
Press Forward received more than 900 applications for funding in its first “Open Call on Closing Local Coverage Gaps.” Press Forward calls itself “a national movement to strengthen our democracy by revitalizing local news and information.” It is funded by more than 30 large foundations, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and KFF.
The other Washington-based grant recipients are:
Chinese Radio Seattle, is a hub of cultural and social events for the Asian/Chinese community in the greater Seattle area.
Future Tides, based in Seattle, which covers how people work, play and live on the Pacific Northwest’s waterways to help the maritime community navigate what’s next.
RANGE Media, based in Spokane, is a worker-owned newsroom with an emphasis on engaging communities not adequately served, reached, or represented by traditional media.
Click here to view the entire list of grant recipients.
The steady and significant decline in the availability of reliable, fact-based local news across the country is connected to growing threats to democracy, increasing polarization, and the spread of disinformation.
At the same time, over a decade of investment in journalism experimentation and transformation have produced new models and solutions that are ready to scale, and a new generation of leaders prepared to reinvent and revitalize the field. Press Forward partners are moving from individual grantmaking strategies to a shared vision and coordinated action.
“These newsrooms are proof that we are seeing a moment of transformation, where new and longstanding leaders are stepping up to create a new story for local news,” said Dale R. Anglin, Director of Press Forward. “Each of these newsrooms plays a vital public service role in its community - providing trustworthy local news and information in places where no other sources may exist. Independent newsrooms need community support to survive. We hope that more people will subscribe and donate to them.”
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DStusser
Note from Publisher Danny Stusser: We’re super excited about this grant.
Please note: There’s a challenge that comes with it, to raise the other half of the funds we’ll need to employ and support our new editor (recruiting is under way now).
But this isn’t a request for contributions! If you’re so inclined, thank you, but please wait just under three weeks and donate through the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound’s GIVE LOCAL campaign. That way, your funds will be matched more than 1:1 – your contribution will go twice as far if you give AFTER November 4.
Thank you.
Yesterday at 10:55 PM Report this
EdithWeirHarding
Well deserved! Congrats!
Yesterday at 11:01 PM Report this
GeorgeBurazer
Wonderful news in support of really local coverage! Best wishes to Publisher Danny
and the JOLT's ace staff and contributors. And nice to be recognized for a job well done.
George B.
Yesterday at 11:25 PM Report this
griffithga
Congratulations Danny and Staff on this well deserved award and grant. There is a great need for local news coverage not only here in Olympia but across the nation. Thanks for working to fill this need.
Yesterday at 11:32 PM Report this
TomBoucher
Good work!
Yesterday at 11:33 PM Report this
Callie
Way to go!
Today Report this
Dogmom
Congratulations on your grant. You definitely deserve it because you are the only local news that really tells us what is going on in Thurston County. It's stuff we never hear from any other source.
Today Report this
KarenM
Danny and JOLT staff - we are fortunate to have the JOLT here in Thurston County to help keep us informed. It looks like this was a very competitive grant process and you obviously stood out as a successful operation. Congratulations!
Today Report this
tommull
KUDOS!!! =)
12 hours ago Report this
GinnyAnn
Congratulations to The Jolt for receiving this prestigious grant. Your work serving our community will keep growing stronger.
11 hours ago Report this
ChuckCross
Tremendous news!! You are doing a great job of serving our need to know what the heck is going on in Thurston County. You and your organization are highly appreciated.
10 hours ago Report this