By Frank MungeamChief Innovation Officer, Local Media Association

(September 7, 2022) — All local media companies are invited to apply to join the third cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding to learn how to develop reporting projects that can be funded through philanthropy. 

Applications are open and will be accepted until September 25. Up to 20 media companies will be invited to participate in the six-month program that will run from October 2022 through March 2023. 

The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding, made possible with continuing support from Google News Initiative, has helped 55 news organizations raise more tha $10 million to support local journalism since 2020. Newsrooms in the third cohort will learn best practices documented in LMA’s industry report Pathways to Philanthropy

The third cohort will once again be led by Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer at Local Media Association, and a team of coaches including Joaquin Alvarado, who has been instrumental in the development of philanthropic funding at The Seattle Times and other local newsrooms.

The lab will consist of a diverse mix of media companies including newspapers, broadcasters, media organizations serving communities of color and digital news sites. Each publisher in the cohort of the lab will set a fundraising goal in consultation with the coaches that is in line with markets their size. Case studies and an industry playbook will be published, sharing best practices and lessons learned.

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

Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until September 30. Click here to apply now. 

For more information, please contact Lindsey Estes at lindsey.estes@localmedia.org.