Fueling Salt Lake Tribune’s ambitious statewide news expansion: A look at our new support
On Oct. 23, the American Journalism Project announced $3.6 million in new support for three nonprofit news organizations: Charlottesville Tomorrow, The Colorado Sun and the Salt Lake Tribune. Here, we share more about our support for the Salt Lake Tribune’s planned expansion to provide local news for all of Utah.
For more than 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s trusted source for independent news, serving as the state’s paper of record. As Utah’s population continues to grow and change, the need for quality local journalism is more pressing than ever. That’s why the American Journalism Project is investing $1.2 million over the next three years to help The Tribune expand its coverage statewide.
Since its founding in 1871, through its transition to a nonprofit in 2019 and still today, The Tribune continues to adapt to a changing media landscape. Now, The Tribune is embarking on a plan to establish outlets across the state in regions like St. George and Cache Valley, areas experiencing significant population growth and economic shifts. These new local outlets will publish journalism that is free to all and will create multiple modes of distribution across digital and print to reach their communities.
Our investment will support The Tribune’s efforts to build a sustainable model for local news across Utah. AJP’s funding and venture support will help expand The Tribune’s revenue and operations team, which will focus on growing individual giving, securing regional sponsorships, and managing finances statewide. By strengthening its operational foundation, The Tribune will be better equipped to support its growth and continue delivering high-quality journalism.
This investment also gives AJP an opportunity to learn from The Tribune’s successful transition to a nonprofit news organization, particularly in how it is evolving and modernizing its business model. We’ll also have the opportunity to deepen our insights on growing networked organizations alongside The Tribune and other organizations working to build strong networks of newsrooms. The Tribune’s successful acquisition of the Times-Independent in Moab in 2023 is just one example of how strong organizations can help ensure the sustainability of more local journalism in their state or region.
This partnership marks an important step toward building access to reliable, local news for residents across Utah. We’re proud to work with The Salt Lake Tribune as it builds this new chapter, and we look forward to seeing the impact this investment will have on local journalism across the state.