The argument for local news has long been rooted in crisis: communities need reliable information to function, and the organizations providing that information need financial support to survive.
But in practice, that case doesn’t always land. The connection between thriving communities and reliable news can feel abstract, and focusing on the industry’s decline often leaves people feeling overwhelmed.
It’s a tough sell — especially for funders who have never supported local news.
The Rhode Island Foundation, home to the newly launched Press Forward Rhode Island, is building on a broader movement across the Press Forward network to frame local news as a civic health issue. The foundation is also deepening that work through its leadership in a national effort focused on community foundations.
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