15 publishers to be selected for 6-month program
(August 12, 2020) — All local media companies are invited to apply for the first industry lab focused on funding journalism through philanthropy. Applications will be open for the next two weeks with a firm deadline of Aug. 26. Fifteen media companies will be invited to participate in the six-month program that is expected to start in mid-September.
The curriculum is being developed by the staff at The Seattle Times, who will serve as the faculty.
The goal is for the group to collectively raise $2.25 million in journalism funding by June 30, 2021. Case studies and an industry playbook will be published, sharing best practices and lessons learned.
The lab will consist of a diverse mix of media companies including newspapers, broadcasters, media organizations serving communities of color and digital news sites.
Preference will be given to media organizations that:
- Have strong local leadership with deep ties to the community
- Are focused on high-quality local journalism
- Have CEO-level buy-in to participate in this lab and make the time/resource commitment
- Value staff and board diversity
The lab is part of LMA’s new Center for Journalism Funding, made possible by the Google News Initiative.
If you have questions, please contact Lindsey Estes at lindsey.estes@localmedia.org.