How 205 local newsrooms used Press Forward’s $20 million in grants - Digital culture, social media and creators

Press Forward distributed $20 million in unrestricted funding to 205 local news outlets over two years. Interviews with more than 30 recipients show how the grants helped cover operating costs, hire staff and develop new projects, while also revealing limits to what the money could achieve.

In 2024, Press Forward announced grants for at least 100 small local newsrooms, defined as outlets with annual budgets below $1 million. Nearly 1,000 newsrooms applied. The nonprofit ultimately awarded $20 million to 205 outlets, with most receiving $100,000 over two years.

The recipients ranged from community newspapers and digital startups to public radio stations and college newsrooms. Many had never applied for a grant before. Press Forward executive director Dale Anglin said the open call was intended to reach smaller outlets that rarely receive foundation funding and distribute support quickly. Grantees were also required to complete two LION sustainability audits, a year apart; Press Forward is analyzing the results and plans to release its findings next month.

Interviews with more than 30 recipients found that the flexible funding served different purposes. Some outlets used it to pay bills, cover payroll or repay loans. Others invested in equipment, websites, advertising infrastructure and staff. Several recipients said the grant brought credibility with other funders and reassurance that their work was valued.

For the Copper River Record in Alaska, the money supported a new website, digital advertising infrastructure, improved print design and listening sessions with Native villages. It also helped the paper pay freelancers for training and pursue more ambitious reporting. The Sandpoint Reader in Idaho used its grant for computers and cameras, rent, printing costs, staff bonuses and a new advertising media kit. Publisher Ben Olson said the bonuses helped the paper become fully employee-owned.

Other recipients used the funding to expand their teams. The Mānoa Mirror, a University of Hawaii-based online newsroom, hired a managing editor, a student editorial coordinator, three student reporters and a social media producer. The outlet went from publishing a few stories each month to publishing daily. Te Lo Cuento News, a Midwest-based outlet, paid contributors more consistently and added several part-time contract roles.

The funding could not always sustain new positions beyond the grant period. The Texas Spur hired four early-career journalists, but three left for jobs in other industries. EcoRI used grant support to create a full-time development director role, but the salary did not attract the experience the organization needed, and the position was eliminated. Publisher Jo Detz said the funding did not provide enough time to change course and build a more effective revenue strategy.

Some publishers said hiring challenges were not simply about money. Rural outlets struggled to recruit and retain staff, while others found that a two-year grant was too short to establish revenue-generating roles. Planet Detroit founder Nina Ignaczak said fully funding a revenue position for at least three years would be more likely to support long-term sustainability.

The grants also helped some outlets maintain print operations. NotiVisión Georgia put money toward printing and distribution, which CEO Mónica Pirela said are important to its advertising revenue. BenitoLink in California began printing in 2025, a step it said would allow it to seek newspaper-of-record status and earn money from legal notices. The Swift County Monitor-News in Minnesota used part of its award to redesign its paper and promote the value of print advertising.

Other projects extended beyond conventional reporting. The Copper River Record worked with a Native association and a kindergarten class to publish weekly graphics in Ahtna, a critically endangered language. Planet Detroit developed a Civic Action Toolbox that connects news stories with ways for readers to participate, such as finding public meetings and contacting local representatives.

The grants did not prevent every outlet from closing. Atlanta Civic Circle shut down earlier this year and did not receive its second $50,000 installment after failing to complete its first LION audit, Anglin said. Other grantees have merged or changed since applying. Recipients described the support as a meaningful source of stability, but also emphasized that $100,000 over two years could not resolve every financial or staffing challenge facing a local newsroom.

Sources: Nieman Lab.