In response to shrinking newsroom resources, the Detroit Journalism Engagement Fund is designed to increase the quality, outcomes and reach of journalism, with an emphasis on engagement, innovation and the equitable recovery of Detroit.
The Journalism Fund is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in partnership with the Ford Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
In late 2018, nine journalism projects representing 18 southeast Michigan organizations received a share of more than $330,000 from the Journalism Fund. Led by a range of journalism organizations and community nonprofits, projects focus on highlighting the stories of Detroit residents from all backgrounds while creating more options for them to shape the local information landscape. Several established media outlets are collaborating with neighborhood organizations to better connect with Detroit residents and more accurately tell their stories. Other projects focus on helping community members and journalists hold governments accountable.
These new investments build on activities that began in 2017. Following a scan of metro Detroit’s media landscape that year, six organizations representing 13 organizations were awarded $322,000. Those groups produced important, untold stories and significantly increased citizen engagement to capture Detroit’s full story.
Since it was created, the Journalism Fund has provided $650,000 to nearly 20 organizations to strengthen local news coverage and engage community members.
We hope you enjoy reading about the new projects supported by the Journalism Fund and the updates from last year’s work.
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