(May 1, 2024) — All local media companies are invited to apply to join the 2024 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 May 27. Up to 20 media companies will be invited to participate in the six-month program that is planned from June through November 2024.
We are pleased to announce an informational webinar on Thursday, May 23rd at 2 p.m. ET to enable newsrooms to learn more about the lab and answer application questions.
Sign up here to attend the informational webinar
The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding is made possible with continuing support from Google News Initiative. Since its launch in 2020, the lab has helped more than 100 news organizations raise more than $23 million to support local journalism. Newsrooms in the new cohort will learn best practices documented in LMA’s industry report Pathways to Philanthropy and our 2024 report Sustaining Philanthropy for Journalism.
The new cohort will again be led by Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer at Local Media Association, and a team of best-in-class coaches including Joaquin Alvarado, who has been instrumental in the development of philanthropic funding at The Seattle Times and other local newsrooms; Jennifer Preston, formerly vice president of journalism at Knight Foundation; and executive coach Joanne Heyman.
“The Google News Initiative has been a long-standing partner of the Lab for Journalism Funding,” said Tiffany Proscia, news partner manager, Google News Partnerships. “Through this partnership, the LMA has consistently shown its dedication to promoting the sustainability of the news ecosystem. Since its launch in 2020, this program has achieved notable success, with 101 newsrooms collectively raising over $23 million between 2020 and 2023. We look forward to our continued partnership with LMA and its members.”
The lab seeks a diverse mix of media companies including newspapers, broadcasters, media organizations serving communities of color as well as digital news sites, and welcomes both nonprofit and for-profit news organizations focused on civic journalism.
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 May 27.
For more information, please contact Lindsey Estes at lindsey.estes@localmedia.org.