How big a role will foundation funding for local news and information play in the continuing evolution of local media? An ever-increasing one, it appears.
As we reported a few days ago, The Knight Community Information Challenge announced 24 winners of its latest round of funding (worth $4.3 million). The projects are diverse in their approach and location, and none is likely to significantly shake up the local media landscape in a particular area. But it’s another sign that the overall movement of non-profit local news support continues to power on. According to the press release, J-Lab recently reported that some “207 foundations have funded $135.86 million in grants to 128 projects since 2005.” (Full disclosure: J-Lab published my first book, Journalism 2.0.)
