American Journalism Project

American Journalism Project. It is a pioneering philanthropic venture fund dedicated to building and sustaining a thriving, equitable local news landscape across the United States. Founded in 2019 with significant support from major philanthropic institutions, it provides transformative growth capital, strategic support, and advocacy to a growing portfolio of nonprofit news organizations. The fund operates on the conviction that a robust civic infrastructure requires independent, community-focused journalism to inform citizens and strengthen democracy.

History and founding

The initiative was formally launched in 2019 following years of research and development, catalyzed by the deepening crisis in local newspapers and the collapse of the traditional advertising-based business model. Its creation was spearheaded by a coalition of leading philanthropic entities, most notably the Knight Foundation and the Emerson Collective, which provided the initial anchor investments. The founding principles were heavily influenced by the success of the Texas Tribune, a model of sustainable nonprofit journalism co-founded by John Thornton, who became a key architect. The launch was announced with the goal of raising a $50 million fund to invest in high-potential local news organizations, marking a significant shift toward venture philanthropy in the media sector.

Mission and model

Its core mission is to revitalize local news by building a field of independent, nonprofit, and civically essential news organizations that are financially sustainable and deeply connected to their communities. Unlike traditional grantmakers, it functions as a venture fund, making major, multi-year investments in organizations with strong leadership and growth potential. The model combines significant financial capital with intensive strategic support, assisting grantees with business development, audience engagement, revenue diversification, and executive recruitment. This approach is designed to help newsrooms build durable revenue engines beyond philanthropy, often through memberships, events, and underwriting, while maintaining rigorous editorial independence.

Funded organizations and initiatives

The portfolio includes a diverse array of nonprofit newsrooms serving communities from statewide to hyper-local levels. Early investments included established entities like the California Newsroom and the Salt Lake Tribune, the first major metropolitan daily newspaper to convert to nonprofit ownership. It has also funded newer, community-centered outlets such as City Bureau in Chicago, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism in Memphis, and the Oklahoma Center for Public Affairs. A significant initiative is the Local News Fund, a collaborative effort with community foundations to pool resources and support local journalism in specific regions, demonstrating a commitment to building networked solutions to the news desert crisis.

Leadership and governance

The fund is led by CEO Sarabeth Berman, who previously led the American Dance Festival. The board of directors includes prominent figures from media, philanthropy, and business, such as co-founder John Thornton, Alberto Ibargüen of the Knight Foundation, and Laurene Powell Jobs of the Emerson Collective. This governance structure blends deep expertise in journalism, nonprofit management, and venture capital. The leadership team and board provide not only oversight but also active mentorship and strategic guidance to the fund’s grantees, leveraging their extensive networks within the philanthropic sector and the technology industry.

Impact and recognition

Since its launch, it has catalyzed tens of millions of dollars in follow-on funding for its grantees and has become a central actor in the movement to reinvent local news. Its investments have enabled newsrooms to expand coverage, launch new beats, and significantly increase their revenue and audience reach. The fund’s work has been recognized as a critical intervention in preserving democratic institutions and has influenced the strategies of other major funders, including the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Its advocacy has also helped shape public policy discussions around local news sustainability, contributing to legislative proposals like the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Category:Nonprofit journalism organizations Category:American media foundations Category:Organizations established in 2019