KEEPING LOCAL NEWS
In Local Hands
Local News
IS VITAL
Millions of Americans rely on local news and information about the communities where they live and work. People want to read about the issues central to their lives and the health of their communities.
WE ARE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN BUILDING THE FUTURE OF LOCAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS.
Local News
IS DISAPPEARING
Over the past decade, many local and community news organizations have been lost.
3 million people live in cities, towns and rural counties across the US with no local news coverage. These 1,300 communities have no local reporters telling their stories and keeping an eye on the issues most critical to their local democracy and quality of life.
The Stakes
01
When local and community newspapers disappear, their brand, archives, audiences, local trust and local knowledge die too.
In places with little access to local reporting and local information, people are forced to rely on the increasingly polarized national cable television and social media for their news.
We have all seen the results.
WHO WE ARE
The National Trust for Local News is a nonprofit dedicated to keeping local news in local hands.
We work with communities to catalyze the capital, new ownership structures, and business model transformations needed for established local and community news organizations to thrive and remain deeply grounded in their communities.
We Believe In
LOCAL AND
COMMUNITY NEWS
We invest in and build thriving local and community news organizations that are owned by the people they serve.
We believe local and community papers are drivers of local economies and local progress.
They bring attention to the policies and programs that support or hinder economic growth, the educational systems that shape the workforce, chronicle a community’s economic successes and challenges, and document and celebrate the stories and cultural resources that enrich and shape a community.
LOCAL NEWS IS AN IMPACT INVESTMENT.
INVEST FOR IMPACT
Impact and mission-oriented investors have made a tremendous difference in addressing large-scale and complex social issues, including poverty alleviation, land preservation, climate change, education, housing and early childhood. Issues covered by local reporters.
Until now, impact capital has not had a front door into the news industry.
We seek the engagement of impact-oriented investors and local news supporters of all kinds who want to help transform local and community news. Join us in ensuring that our democracy’s vital local and community press survives and thrives.
01
OUR ROLE
Philanthropy is providing critical funding for experimentation, innovation, and growth.
Community-focused capital sources must now be mobilized and channeled alongside philanthropy to truly meet the information needs of our country.
02
OUR PILOT FUND
The National Trust for Local News seeks funding partners for the development of a general-purpose, community-focused investment fund.
This fund will invest in the succession, transformation, growth and stabilization of trusted local and community news via equity and debt.
03
OUR PILOT TRANSACTION
Working with the Colorado Media Project, the Gates Family Foundation, the Colorado Trust, and the American Journalism Project, the National Trust acquired Colorado Community Media and placed it under new local ownership.
The Trust is providing the patient capital, deep expertise, and local partnerships needed to help locally-owned newsrooms like CCM remain that way.
You can learn more about our first acquisition here.
OUR TEAM
The Trust has benefited from the input of leaders in the area of journalism, business, nonprofits and investing:
BOARD MEMBERS
is a co-founder of the National Trust for Local News, the founder of the Public Media Venture Group, a group of 31 public media entities operating 130 stations.
is a journalist, entrepreneur and digital media strategist and is the chief content officer and executive vice president of WFAE, the NPR station in Charlotte.
has designed, built and led game changing organizations across media, technology, financial service and the arts. THE CITY, NPR, Texas Tribune, Morgan Stanley, Dimensional Fund Advisors, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Judd Foundation.
Sindhu Lakshmanan's work at Living Cities focuses on harnessing the collective power of philanthropy, financial institutions, and local governments to close racial income and wealth gaps in American cities.
COMMUNITY AFFILIATES
Strong community-level funder and stakeholder partnerships are critical for preserving, protecting, and transforming local media outlets. Our national funding and support is only effective when we align our efforts with the work of our partners on the ground.
The Colorado Media Project's mission is to better meet the information needs of all Coloradans, by acting as a catalyst and advocate for innovations that make Colorado's local news ecosystem more sustainable, collaborative, and accountable to the public it serves.
The Mountain Association invests in people and places in Eastern Kentucky to advance a just transition to a new economy that is more diverse, sustainable, equitable and resilient.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
CONTACT US
If you are a news organization looking to learn more about our portfolio process or the current status of investments in local news in your area, please fill out this form.
Fiscally sponsored project of
We are grateful to our seed funders
