@theajp.bsky.social
The American Journalism Project is the first-ever venture philanthropy dedicated to supporting a thriving local news ecosystem. We invest in and build nonprofit newsrooms that are sustained by and look like the people they serve.
AJP-supported @ctmirror.org exposed how steep rate hikes priced out thousands of long-term care insurance holders. The investigation earned the @nationalpress.bsky.social 2025 AARP Award for Excellence in Journalism and spurred at least 16 reform proposals from state lawmakers this year.
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@nashvillebanner.bsky.social is working to increase civic engagement in Tennessee, a state with one of the nation's lowest voter turnout rates. We're proud to support the Banner as it builds on early success, expands its reach, and serves its communities with strong #localnews. Read more:
04.12.2025 16:55 β π 5 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
From Maui to KauaΚ»i, @civilbeat.bsky.social's expansion to HawaiΚ»i's neighbor islands will connect readers across the islands. Learn more about how Civil Beat will provide trusted #localnews while deepening its roots in communities statewide with AJP's support:
03.12.2025 18:52 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
We're excited to share more on our recent investment in @cardinalnews.org! With new support, the newsroom will expand its reach and deepen coverage, serving readers across Southwest and Southside Virginia with reliable #localnews. Read more:
02.12.2025 19:53 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
This Thanksgiving, weβre especially thankful for the journalists, newsroom leaders and community members strengthening #localnews.
Weβre proud to support a growing portfolio of local outlets and grateful to the many newsrooms keeping their communities informed.
Thank you.
A wave of #localnews efforts is reshaping how LA communities stay informed.
AJP-supported The LA Local, featured in @niemanlab.org, is building a new model for neighborhood-based reporting β collaborative, community-rooted and built to last.
Read more:
Congratulations to AJP-supported @blockclubchi.bsky.social, named Best Daily News Site in an international competition hosted by Editor & Publisher magazine.
Block Club Chicago has published 29,000+ articles since its launch in 2018, dedicatedly serving Chicago neighborhoods with #localnews.
As AI use grows in local newsrooms, many are beginning to explore formal policies. Our latest from AJPβs Product & AI Studio shares takeaways from AJP-supported orgs, common barriers, and steps to get started.
Read more:
After Boyle Heights Beat, part of the AJP-supported LA Local, reported that no voting centers would be in the Boyle Heights neighborhood for the Nov. 4 election, county officials took notice. Now, there are four pop-up voting centers. Read more:
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In the days following an investigation by AJP-supported @wisconsinwatch.org, a Wisconsin mother who spent three years waiting for a public defender received a flood of messages offering legal help. #localnews
Read the full story:
AJP-supported @blockclubchi.bsky.social launched a WhatsApp channel to expand access to critical local reporting for Chicagoβs immigrant communities. Block Club is also working with AJP-supported @citybureau.bsky.social to share stories and alerts in Spanish.
Read more:
A new WhatsApp channel from AJP-supported @blockclubchi.bsky.social has launched to expand access to critical local reporting for Chicagoβs immigrant communities. Block Club is also working with AJP-supported @citybureau.bsky.social _bureau to share stories and alerts in Spanish.
Read more:
π’ Weβre thrilled to announce $3.5M in grants to three organizations joining our portfolio: @cardinalnews.org, @civilbeat.bsky.social and @nashvillebanner.bsky.social! This funding will help these newsrooms grow sustainably and better serve their communities with trusted #localnews.
Learn more:
Today, AJPβs Product & AI Studio introduces the "Field Guide: AI for Local Reporting" β a living resource to help local newsrooms understand what each tool does, how itβs used, whoβs using it, and what makes it unique.
Learn more:
AJP-supported @deepsouthtoday.org is launching a regional investigative reporting center in collaboration with the @nytimes.com Local Investigations Fellowship. This partnership creates new infrastructure and provides essential resources for high-impact investigations. Read more:
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The challenges are real, but so is the growing movement to overcome them. Across the country, communities are coming together to strengthen local news through new nonprofit models, coalitions and collaborations.
π Read Lorettaβs full piece:
π‘ When local newsrooms are stretched thin, people turn to a range of sources for information β social media, community orgs, and neighborhood groups. These can be trusted messengers, but donβt necessarily bring journalistic standards. 4/5
16.10.2025 19:25 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0π Sports, crime and entertainment are often preserved over other coverage areas because theyβre revenue drivers. These topics matter to audiences, but they can crowd out deeper reporting on local government, housing, or public health. 3/5
16.10.2025 19:25 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0π° In many markets, years of cuts have left many sources of original reporting with limited staff, making it harder to sustain coverage of key beats like city hall, education and health. 2/5
16.10.2025 19:25 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0In our latest piece, AJPβs Loretta Chao shares how we work with local philanthropy partners to assess the strength of local media ecosystems.
We analyze whatβs being covered, whatβs missing, and whether current outlets have the resources to meet community needs. 𧡠1/5
The AJP-supported @tulsaflyer.bsky.social is live β a new nonprofit newsroom bringing more original reporting to Tulsa.
Itβs also expanding the legacy of The Oklahoma Eagle, quadrupling local reporting power while keeping news free and community-focused.
Dig deeper into the impact in this piece from @apnews.com:
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An investigation by AJP-supported @mississippitoday.org found that much of opioid settlement money in the state was spent on routine general expenses, prompting action from lawmakers who promise to make sure settlement money is used to prevent deadly overdoses.
Read the investigation here:
The LA Local is the new name for the Los Angeles Local News Initiative β an AJP-supported effort to build a new kind of local media for L.A.
Rooted in 15 years of reporting from Boyle Heights Beat, it's focused on community-driven reporting that connects and serves Angelenos.
In a moment when trusted #localnews is disappearing, AJP-supported newsrooms are showing what sustainable growth looks like.
In 2024, they generated $128M in revenue, saw 23% median revenue growth, & increased full-time newsroom staff by 26%.
Dig deeper:
From a small team of volunteers to a statewide newsroom with 15 staff and nearly 1M readers, AJP-supported @nysfocus.bsky.social is driving transparency and accountability across NY.
π₯ Watch the org's 5th anniversary video:
Weβre honored to be named a finalist for the $10M Trust in American Institutions Challenge from Lever for Change and @reidhoffman.bsky.social.
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Rebuilding #localnews is key to restoring trust and strengthening the connections that hold our communities together. More:
Newsrooms in the AJP portfolio are looking for talented professionals who believe in the power of #localnews to strengthen communities.
Explore open roles in editorial, audience, development, operations and more β¬οΈ
How do young, rural Vermonters get their news, and what do they wish local media did better?
AJP-supported @vtdigger.bsky.social is listening closely through Dirt Road News, a new effort to connect with overlooked communities and shape reporting around what they hear. More β¬οΈ
