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HOT PURSUIT

Grant helps strengthen local news
By
Rick Bussler, Publisher
rick bussler, editor, opinion, hot pursuit

It comes with great excitement that I announce the Steele County Times has been awarded a grant by Press Forward Minnesota to help strengthen local news.

At a time when “news deserts” (communities without local newspapers) are becoming more and more common across the landscape of the country, it’s especially critical that something is done to save those institutions still trying to cover their communities. Within the past 20 years, more than 2,500 newspapers have shuttered across America. It happened in 10 communities in Minnesota last year.

Press Forward Minnesota is a statewide movement to re-center local journalism as a force for community cohesion, civic participation and government accountability, with a focus on racial equity. The Minnesota organization is one of the inaugural chapters of the national movement that began about a year and half ago.

Last week Press Forward Minnesota announced that 13 organizations, including the Times, were selected after a rigorous process. Each grantee will receive a one-year, $40,000 grant. The Times was the only weekly community newspaper chosen. Most of the others represent digital services, online platforms, and training programs.

The 13 organizations collectively will receive $520,000, which is part of a five-year initiative with a goal of raising $10 million to reinvest in Minnesota’s local news ecosystem. These grants support smaller news organizations that provide hyperlocal, original reporting to communities across the state, with a focus on meeting the needs of communities of color, linguistically diverse communities, low-wealth rural communities and others not adequately served, reached or represented.

“We are incredibly excited to support these outstanding organizations that are vital to the health and well-being of their communities,” said May Yang, senior manager of policy and partnerships at the Minnesota Council on Foundations, who serves as the staff lead for Press Forward Minnesota. “These grants will help them expand their reach, innovate their reporting and better serve their audiences.”

This initiative is supported by the McKnight Foundation. “McKnight is thrilled to see 13 innovative newsrooms from across the state included in the first round of Press Forward Minnesota funding, " said Tim Murphy, program officer at McKnight. “These organizations are providing a vital service, helping to inform and connect diverse communities that have been affected by the local news crisis. At the same time, we know local journalism needs more support from more funders, businesses, and readers alike, to match the scale of the challenge. We look forward to building on this important first step to strengthen a local news ecosystem that serves all Minnesotans.”

Over the past year, the Times has conducted community surveys with top leaders to get a better understanding of what the needs are in Steele County and how we can better serve the greater community. At least a dozen leaders responded to our inquiries, which have helped pave the way to our successful grant.

In the coming weeks, I will share more details with you about our intentions and what this grant specifically means to readers. We have been challenged to step up our game, and I can assure you we will do just exactly that.

I am grateful that we will be able to go in hot pursuit of strengthening local news for the benefit of making our communities stronger and better places to live.

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