Press Forward gave $20 million to 205 local newsrooms over two years. Here’s how some of them spent it.

Most local newsrooms in the U.S. have one thing in common: They need more money, and many dream of dollars they can use however they want.

In 2024, Press Forward, the nonprofit trying to mobilize a philanthropic army for local news, announced it would give at least 100 small local newsrooms — those with annual budgets under $1 million — just that type of unrestricted funding. Almost 1,000 newsrooms applied. Ultimately, Press Forward distributed $20 million to 205 outlets. Most of them received $100,000 each, split over two years.

I wondered what the recipients had done with the money, and which problems it had (or hadn’t) solved. Between May and October, I spoke or emailed with more than 30 grantees.

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