COVID-19, Democracy and the Importance of Local Journalism - a Webinar

About

This program will now be delivered via Zoom webinar. Please register to receive webinar information the day before the program.

From 2008 to 2018, newsroom employment dropped by 25%, with the sharpest declines experienced by newspapers. Over the past decade, roughly 1,800 local newspapers closed nationwide, leaving over 1,000 communities without local news coverage. Various studies have linked the absence of local news outlets to increased municipal borrowing due to unchecked government expenditures; decreased civic knowledge and engagement; reduced political competition in mayoral races; and increased political polarization. With much at stake, funders from across the country have begun to reinvest in local news – both individually and in partnership.

We invite you to join us for a timely and insightful conversation about local journalism with funders who are making bold investments in the sector and the civic news organizations that they support. Join your funder colleagues in examining current approaches and future opportunities to support a thriving local news ecosystem.

Explore

• The landscape of local journalism and its role in a crisis such as COVID-19 and in strengthening communities and democracy
• The trends in support for local news and public service journalism
• New funder initiatives and funding models that support local news, including American Journalism Project and the Democracy Fund

Presenters

• Angelica Das, Senior Program Associate of Engaged Journalism, Democracy Fund
• Elizabeth Green, Co-Founder, American Journalism Project and Chalkbeat
• Jere Hester, Founding Editor in Chief, THE CITY
• Julie Sandorf, President, The Charles H. Revson Foundation
• Meghan Van Dyk, Informed Communities Program Officer, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
• Megan McAllister (Moderator), Senior Program Officer, Altman Foundation

Designed for
All interested funders

Registration
Registration is required by May 6th. Space is limited. Registrants will receive the webinar link a day prior to the program.

Members: To register yourself and/or a colleague at your organization, please log in and click the Register Now link above. (no fee)

Guests of Co-Sponsors: Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org with your name, title, organizational affiliation, business mailing address, and phone number. Please indicate by which organizer you were invited. (no fee)

Non-Member Funders: Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org. ($150 fee)

Please note: To ensure fairness among our members, we reserve the right to limit the number of attendees per organization for select professional development programs.

Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org with any questions.