Not just content — capacity: AP’s new program helps local newsrooms go deeper

I started in local news — at a small Black-owned newspaper in 1987. I then went on to The Roanoke Times. Things have changed a lot since then. Local newsrooms have far fewer resources, and they are facing huge challenges. But that is where most people interact with journalism — where trust in news is built.”

Ron Nixon, AP director of Local Investigative Reporting Program

The Associated Press is expanding its support for local newsrooms to produce in-depth reporting. In March, the nonprofit cooperative launched the Local Investigative Reporting Program, providing member newsrooms with resources to strengthen accountability journalism through data analysis and advanced reporting techniques. 

“This is about bolstering the whole ecosystem,” said Ron Nixon, who is transitioning from vice president for News, Investigations, and Partnerships to direct the project. “Local newsrooms have been hollowed out, and we need to rethink how we help them do the work that matters.” 

In early March, Nixon spoke with E&P from Jackson, Mississippi, as he launched a nationwide listening tour to learn how AP can better support local investigative reporting. He said he'd spoken with newsrooms in New Mexico and California and would be doing more in the coming months. “To me, it’s a natural extension of what we already do,” said Nixon. “It’s being able to give folks more than content. It's listening to them about what they need and helping them grow their reporting and newsroom.”

Nixon has led major, award-winning national and international investigations, but this new role is personal. “I started in local news — at a small Black-owned newspaper in 1987. I then went on to The Roanoke Times,” he said. “Things have changed a lot since then. Local newsrooms have far fewer resources, and they are facing huge challenges. But that is where most people interact with journalism — where trust in news is built.” 

AP’s Executive Editor Julie Pace said the initiative builds on the work of AP’s Local News Success Team, which helps newsrooms localize national AP stories. Nixon called the new effort an evolution, allowing local newsrooms to define their own stories while AP provides tailored support. 

“Some newsrooms might just want training, others need collaboration and some want consultations on a specific investigation,” Nixon said. “It’s about understanding their needs and stepping in where we can.” 

Drawing from AP’s experience in national and international collaborations, the program will extend similar support to local newsrooms. “There are resources, like satellite imagery and social media mapping — tools that are often too expensive for local outlets,” Nixon said. By getting access to AP’s data teams and reporting expertise, local journalists can enhance their investigative work without prohibitive costs. 

The approach builds on past AP collaborations, such as Lethal Restraint, a partnership with Frontline, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland and Arizona State University to take a comprehensive look at data on police use of force and its impact on local communities across the country. AP provided local outlets with data, documents, and video and audio elements and helped them develop their own investigative stories about their communities. Jason Pritchard, who worked on Lethal Restraint, will join Nixon in the new initiative.

“That project showed us that when local newsrooms have access to resources, they can do important work that might not otherwise be possible,” Nixon said. 

The challenge now is structuring the program. While AP is already receiving pitches, Nixon and his team are gathering input from newsrooms and reaching out across AP’s network to refine selection criteria and determine available resources. 

Several major national news organizations, including ProPublica, Type Investigations and The Marshall Project, have launched programs supporting local investigative reporting. Nixon emphasizes that AP’s initiative isn’t about competition but contributing to a broader effort to sustain local journalism. 

“The problem is too big for any one organization to solve alone,” he said. “This is about collaboration — ensuring critical work gets done, wherever it’s happening.”

Diane Sylvester is an award-winning 30-year multimedia news veteran. She works as a reporter, editor and newsroom strategist. She can be reached at diane.povcreative@gmail.com