Press Forward Northeast Iowa

A Partnership for the Future of Local News

Local news connects people to their communities.

It informs decisions about schools, safety, elections and local priorities. As the national organization Press Forward's Northeast Iowa chapter, we use the power of philanthropy to increase access to local news and information. We directly support local reporters and local publications to increase access to the type of information that helps democracy thrive.

Why It Matters

Local news is in danger. The shift to digital media has been devastating to newspapers across the United States, with large tech companies eating into the advertising revenue that traditionally has sustained local journalism.

Rural and underserved communities, where the local paper is often the primary source of information about important topics like government and education, have been hardest hit. Many have closed, merged with other papers, or been bought out by hedge funds that have stripped cash from operations.

How It Works

As Iowa’s first and only Press Forward chapter, we serve as a philanthropic resource for people and organizations who understand the revenue challenges news outlets face and want to increase their capacity to provide quality journalism around topics that matter in local communities.

Press Forward Locals like us comprise a network of chapters across the country where funders bring new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news. These 31 chapters are an opportunity for funders to create place-based initiatives, driven by the specific information needs of their communities.

By the Numbers