American Journalism Project invests $3.6 million in the growth of three local nonprofit news organizations

Announcements

With support from AJP, organizations in Virginia, Colorado and Utah will expand their reporting to reach audiences lacking access to quality local news.

WASHINGTON — Oct. 23, 2024 — The American Journalism Project today announced new support for three nonprofit local news organizations: Charlottesville Tomorrow, The Colorado Sun and The Salt Lake Tribune. In addition to funding, the venture philanthropy will provide these organizations with tailored, strategic support to help them scale and strengthen their organizations.

The ongoing failure of the commercial news market has left communities across the country without access to local news and information. The American Journalism Project is the leading venture philanthropy working to address the local news crisis by fueling the sustainable growth of nonprofit local news organizations. 

Since its founding in 2019, the American Journalism Project has committed $62.7 million to a portfolio of 49 nonprofit news organizations across 35 states, including several concepts under incubation. In 2023, AJP’s portfolio of grantees generated more than $86 million in revenue, a 36% increase over 2022 revenue. AJP grantees saw a 56% median growth in their organization revenue year-over-year. 

“Local news is essential to building informed, connected communities, and it plays a critical role in ensuring residents are engaged both on and beyond Election Day,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project. “To secure the future of local news, we must invest in sustainable business models that allow these organizations to thrive. We are proud to support these three newsrooms as they grow, expand their reach and build lasting models that will serve their communities for years to come.”

The organizations receiving new funding have ambitious and unique plans to grow original local reporting and expand their business and revenue operations. More details on each organization and how they will use this new support:

  • Charlottesville Tomorrow, Charlottesville, Va. — $1 million to grow capacity and sustainability to meet the news and information needs of central Virginia’s diverse communities. Charlottesville Tomorrow’s in-depth reporting focuses on local issues, with a commitment to ensuring the people most impacted by the issues they cover are centered in its coverage. The publication’s reporting has driven impact locally, including by helping residents improve conditions in affordable housing, encouraging greater and more informed voter engagement in local elections, and helping increase diversity and equity in the local media ecosystem.
  • The Colorado Sun, Colorado — $1.4 million to support more local news for communities across Colorado. Launched by a group of Denver journalists in 2018, the outlet covers statewide issues in depth and has emerged as a leading news source with a robust track record of impact, including changes in local laws as a direct result of its reporting. To meet the state’s increasing information needs, the outlet transitioned from a public benefit corporation to a nonprofit in 2023. AJP’s support will help ensure the organization builds a robust, sustainable nonprofit operation as it seeks to expand and strengthen its local coverage. The organization will establish the infrastructure for four regional hubs — northeastern Colorado, southern Colorado, the Western Slope and the Eastern Plains.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah — $1.2 million to support The Tribune’s geographic expansion, ensuring robust local news coverage for communities across Utah. Since its founding in 1871, The Salt Lake Tribune has served as Utah’s independent voice, operating as the state’s paper of record and providing critical coverage. In 2019, The Tribune made a landmark transformation into a nonprofit news organization. Support from AJP will help The Tribune expand into new local markets across Utah, providing communities with freely accessible local products and growing the number of Tribune journalists working outside Salt Lake City.

###

About the American Journalism Project
The American Journalism Project is a venture philanthropy dedicated to local news. We believe in civic journalism as a public good and are reimagining its future by building a model to finance and sustain the local news our democracy requires. We make grants to local nonprofit news organizations to build their revenue and business operations, partner with communities to launch new organizations, and mentor leaders as they grow and sustain their newsrooms. To learn more about the American Journalism Project, visit theajp.org.

Media contact: Roshni Neslage, Head of Communications, American Journalism Project, media@theajp.org, 954-526-1565