Since its founding in 2017, Report for America (RFA) has supported nearly 400 local newsrooms across the United States, helping them collectively raise $30 million from local communities. Now, the nonprofit journalism initiative has launched an ambitious new pilot project — the Accelerator Program. The Accelerator Program is designed to further boost the sustainability of both for-profit and nonprofit local news organizations by diversifying their revenue streams and tapping into local philanthropic support.
In this interview with Editor & Publisher’s Mike Blinder, Morgan Baum, director of Local News Sustainability at RFA, explained how this pilot project could serve as a game-changer for local news outlets struggling to remain financially viable.
The need for local news sustainability
The local news industry faces significant financial challenges. Shrinking advertising revenues, coupled with the rise of digital platforms, have put many small and independent outlets on the verge of collapse. The RFA, part of The GroundTruth Project, aims to address these challenges by offering practical tools to secure more sustainable funding for local newsrooms.
As Baum explained during the interview, the Accelerator Program stems from the recognition that some newsrooms could not apply for RFA support in the past because they were not financially ready. “There are a handful of newsrooms that never even raised their hand to apply for Report for America because they’re not ready yet,” Baum said. She elaborated that RFA identified a gap in helping these outlets become financially prepared to participate fully in the program.
Through coaching, training and fiscal sponsorship (if needed), the Accelerator Program will assist these newsrooms in becoming stronger and more financially sustainable, opening the door for future opportunities such as hosting RFA’s corps members. “Our Accelerator Program will expand our support to newsrooms as they plan to expand their staff,” Baum said.
Criteria for the pilot program
Baum also shared key details about the pilot phase, which will select 25 local newsrooms. These newsrooms, both for-profit and nonprofit, will receive tailored coaching designed to enhance their ability to raise funds from local philanthropy and other revenue streams.
Baum emphasized that diversity in newsroom size, location and mediums will be central to the selection process: “We need to have a variety of different sizes, locations, historical backgrounds, mediums for how they make the news, as well as communities that they serve.” RFA’s goal is to ensure that the pilot includes a broad representation of local news outlets, both urban and rural, to gather comprehensive insights that will help scale the program in the future. “I have a little poster board of the whole United States,” Baum shared, “and my goal is that the accelerator program reaches from coast to coast, from top to bottom.”
For newsrooms interested in participating, the deadline to apply is November 17, 2024, with the final selections to be announced in December. Baum mentioned that a virtual, live information session on October 22, 2024, will help clarify the application process and answer potential participants’ questions.
Comprehensive revenue strategies
While much of the Accelerator Program will focus on philanthropy, but Baum clarified that RFA’s approach to sustainability in local news is multifaceted. In addition to tapping into philanthropic dollars, newsrooms will be guided in exploring other revenue streams, including business partnerships, local government support and more. “We help some of our newsrooms raise non-philanthropic revenue on top of philanthropy,” Baum explained.
She stressed that local media organizations often overlook small, community-focused revenue opportunities, such as partnering with local foundations, small businesses or even government programs. Baum pointed out that local government dollars, in particular, are an untapped resource for many newsrooms, especially those that serve as essential small businesses in their communities.
“There’s a lot of community funding for small businesses and economic development across America,” she said, adding that RFA will help participating newsrooms identify and pursue such opportunities.
Addressing the trust gap in local journalism
In today’s polarized media landscape, public trust in journalism has eroded, with national news brands often bearing the brunt of this distrust. However, local news outlets still have a vital role to play in rebuilding community trust. Baum believes that the Accelerator Program can help local newsrooms re-establish that trust by keeping their focus on hyperlocal issues that matter most to their readers.
“I believe local media can be a part of the solution to bringing communities back together,” Baum said. She added that local news plays an important role in promoting community health, not just through healthcare reporting but by informing the public on critical local matters such as education, housing, and economic development.
“If you care about education, you should care about local news telling the education story,” she noted. Local news outlets can strengthen their relationships with their communities by focusing on issues that directly impact their readers, ultimately fostering more trust and engagement.
Encouraging newsrooms to apply
Baum concluded the interview with an impassioned pitch to local newsrooms that might be hesitant about joining the Accelerator Program. “It sounds too good to be true; I hear that a lot,” she acknowledged — before offering assurances that RFA’s support is both real and effective. She encouraged all newsrooms, regardless of size or funding model, to apply for the program: “We’re fiscally sponsoring 43 newsrooms right now. And if you’ve always wanted a core member but thought, ‘We’re just not ready yet,’ then this is the program for you.”
With the deadline for applications fast approaching, Baum’s message to local newsrooms is simple: take advantage of this opportunity to secure the long-term sustainability of your organization. “The deadline is November 17, but we are reviewing the applications on a rolling basis, so I can start filling up my map with all the pins of where we’re going to be putting newsrooms,” she said, signaling her excitement about the potential reach and impact of the program.
As local journalism continues to grapple with financial challenges and a trust deficit, Report for America’s Accelerator Program offers a much-needed lifeline that will help local newsrooms survive and thrive in the years to come.
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