Limited Submission Opportunity: Press Forward Open Call on Infrastructure 2025
URL: https://www.pressforward.news/pooled-fund/open-call-2/
OBJECTIVES:
This open call focuses on strengthening the infrastructure of the local news industry, one of Press Forward’s four strategic pillars. Through this initiative, Press Forward is seeking to fund solutions to the common challenges that outlets face in sustainably creating and disseminating local news. While healthy communities deserve quality local news and sustainable, resilient local newsrooms, rapid changes in technology have impacted every facet of the news industry, including how outlets produce stories, reach audiences, raise revenue and cultivate talent. At the same time, a dramatic decline in the number of professionals employed by independent local news outlets has left many dedicated journalists and news leaders running on fumes.
Press Forward’s second Open Call on Infrastructure will support shared solutions to the common challenges newsrooms face. We are particularly seeking scalable, replicable or new ideas, tools or technology that will help multiple independent local newsrooms address four priority areas: Audience, Operations, People, and Revenue. Applicants must select one of the four priority areas when submitting their LOI.
FUNDING INFORMATION:
Between $500,000 and $1.5 million for 2-3 years (between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2028).
All lead applicants must have financial or in-kind resources to contribute to the development of this idea.
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS:
Press Forward discourages multiple applications from a university and encourages a collaborative approach and single proposal with as many participants as possible.
Successful proposals will be bold ideas that benefit multiple organizations, build stronger shared infrastructure at the national, regional or local level, and/or have the potential to impact the sector at large. Collaborations can be at a local, regional or statewide level. For-profit newsrooms or for-profit service providers can be a part of the group; however, the lead applicant must be a non-profit organization
To be considered eligible, all proposals must:
- Experiment with new solutions to solve common challenges
- Impact or inform the field nationwide
- Pilot ideas locally that can be replicated in other regions, and/or
- Have a proven track record but require deeper investment to realize a greater impact
Press Forward will not fund proposals that:
- Are not focused on the future of local news
- Offer solution(s) only to a single newsroom or are otherwise limited in scope or impact
- Do not have resources contributed toward this idea outside of this possible grant
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS:
Interested investigators should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by 12/13/24:
- Questions outlined in InfoReady Review application (1 paragraph each)
- A 2-page Proposal Description with an optional bibliography on a third page that addresses the following:
- Identify which priority area your project addresses: Audience, Operations, People, or Revenue
- What is the common challenge that you plan to address – and how?
- Why are you the right organization to tackle this challenge?
- Who are the specific partners you will work with and/or support to ensure success?
- How will your organization, your partners, your local news ecosystem, your community and/or the field be stronger if you are successful?
A faculty committee will review internal proposals and select nominee(s). Foundation Relations will work with the nominees to develop and submit the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by 1/15/2025.
DEADLINES:
Internal Materials Due: Friday, December 13, 2024, by 11:59 pm ET
LOI Due: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by 11:59 pm ET