(March 31, 2023) — All local media companies are invited to apply to join the fourth 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 April 23. Up to 20 media companies will be invited to participate in the six-month program that will run from May through October 2023.
The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding, made possible with continuing support from Google News Initiative, has helped 70 news organizations raise more than $17 million to support local journalism since 2020. Newsrooms in the new cohort will learn best practices documented in LMA’s industry report Pathways to Philanthropy.
The new 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 April 23. Click here to apply now.
For more information, please contact Lindsey Estes at lindsey.estes@localmedia.org.