Part of a National Movement to Support Local Reporting

“We need a bias toward action. It is time now for philanthropy to move at the speed of news.”

That call to action came from Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, who kicked off the 2024 Knight Media Forum in February with a strong show of support for nonprofit journalism. Community Foundation President and CEO Nancy Van Milligen and Bob Woodward, director of journalism philanthropy and college student partnerships for Telegraph Herald publisher Woodward Communications, were in the audience, attending the forum to build relationships with potential funders and learn how news organizations across the country are creating futures that are centered around philanthropy.

“Americans overwhelmingly support access to local news, which makes strengthening community newspapers one of the few issues today that can bring together people from across the political spectrum,” Van Milligen says.

The Knight Foundation is part of a coalition of national funders investing in Press Forward, an organization that works to create a future where local media and access to information is at the center of a strong democracy. It does this, in part, by awarding grants to local journalism outlets across the country.

It has 17 local chapters – including 11 just announced at the Media Forum – which create opportunities to respond to the unique media needs of different cities and regions.

“We see a great opportunity for partnership with Press Forward, which would enable the Community Foundation to support our region’s news outlets,” Van Milligen says. “As an organization that convenes and connects people in the community around critical issues, we are positioned to be a trusted partner in strengthening journalism in the Dubuque region.”