March 11, 2021: One year since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the virus has claimed more than 2.6 million lives worldwide, and is approaching 530,000 deaths here in the United States. Report for America corps members adapted with swiftness and grace to cover the most consequential story of a generation, maybe a
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Report for America sustainability report offers hope as communities pitch in to save local news
Report for America today released Local News Philanthropy: Strong Signs of Positive Movement, a report on local sustainability and development efforts by the nonprofit program’s newsroom partners in 2020. The report underscores the fact that the demand by communities for local news is healthy—it’s the industry’s business model that must change. “It’s time for local
Celebrating Black History: Renaissance of the Black press
On Canyon Crest Drive in Riverside, California, sits Jammin’ Bakery and Café, a sandwich shop that recently closed. It is one of the latest casualties of the coronavirus pandemic. Paulette Brown-Hinds, publisher of Black Voice News, was a regular at the bakery and on Valentine’s weekend hosted a virtual farewell for people who’d read from
Report for America sustainability report offers hope for local news philanthropy as newsrooms raise 61% more per reporter
Report for America today announced that it will release its 2020 Local Newsroom Sustainability Report during the Knight Media Forum, hosted virtually by the Knight Foundation, March 2-4. The upcoming report includes the striking news that Report for America newsroom partners raised 61% more funding per reporter in 2020 than in 2019, jumping from a
Celebrating Black History: Covering African American communities
America’s annual celebration of Black History Month takes on a remarkable dimension this year as the nation reels from a summer of protests confronting racism and police violence; as communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to systemic failures, from lack of local pharmacies to medical racism; and as Black leaders and activists
Celebrating Black History Month: The representative power of Black newsrooms
“The Black press is really important for Report for America and communities at large because they have such a rich history of telling stories of communities and people that have been disenfranchised, and whose stories have not been told in mainstream media,” said Alison Bethel McKenzie, vice president of corps excellence at Report for America,
Celebrating the Black Press
The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year reignited America’s racial reckoning with a momentum unseen since the embattled days of the Civil Rights Movement. As hundreds of thousands of protestors took to the streets nationwide, issues like police reform and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color were brought to the forefront. Throughout
Report for America announces key leadership promotions
Report for America today announced two key leadership promotions: Kim Kleman to senior vice president of Report for America, and Alison Bethel McKenzie to vice president of corps excellence. The promotions reflect the nonprofit program’s growth and success in its efforts to place journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities “The
Report for America announces new support from Lumina Foundation
Report for America today announced $500,000 in support from Lumina Foundation of Indianapolis. Report for America is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Over the next two years, Lumina’s grant will help support Report for America corps members covering issues pertaining to racial justice.
Answering the call to serve again—as journalists
Report for America, Military Veterans in Journalism partner to enlist former service members in local newsrooms Let’s face it, journalism isn’t exactly the most glamorous of professions. It doesn’t always pay all that well. Not every story is exciting. And the stereotypes that lead to mistrust of the media? We’ll save that for another