By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist
Black Voice News, KVCR, and The Frontline Observer are among the recipients of $220,000 awarded to 12 local news outlets and independent media makers.
In its inaugural round, The IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund’s investment highlights Inland Empire Community Foundation’s commitment to revitalizing local news and ensuring Inland Empire communities have access to equitable and impactful journalism.Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of the IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF, expressed pride over being able to support the “talented individuals and organizations in their efforts to inform, engage, and inspire our communities.”
This year’s grant recipients represent a range of projects and focus areas, from investigative reporting and community storytelling to multimedia content creation. The other news organizations receiving funding to support their work include:
OTWay Media (Media Literacy)
Melissa Daniels (Freelance)
1LoveIE (Digital Media)
I.E. in Friends (Digital Media)
In addition to grant funding support, the 12 local organizations will also participate in a peer learning community with the idea of fostering collaboration. Sharing best practices to strengthen the journalism community’s capacity to operate more effectively also plays a vital role.
Armando Carmona, project director at the Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF says it’s all part of, “paving the way for transformative regional journalism by empowering diverse voices, fostering innovation, and strengthening local coverage to create a more inclusive and informed Inland Empire.”
The Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund was established to support innovative and community-centered reporting in the region, and its efforts quickly blossomed. Investing in local newsrooms, independent journalists, and storytelling initiatives was key.
Now, the Fund aims to amplify the voices of the diverse communities in the region and address critical issues that affect it.
In the forefront of the minds of these change agents is the truth that Inland Empire journalists face significant challenges. According to the Hub + Fund, these hurdles include limited resources for local journalism, fragmented communities, and the need for equitable access to information, especially for underrepresented groups such as immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations.
The efforts of the Hub + Fund have greatly helped in fostering collaboration, building trust, and empowering local media to address these challenges head-on.
These efforts are supported by stellar allies. Donations from the James Irvine Foundation, Press Forward, Democracy Fund, IECF, and the Google News Initiative as well as san bindividual donors who share a common vision for a thriving local journalism ecosystem allow these efforts to take flight and soar high.
To learn more and how you can support local journalism in the Inland Empire, please visit https://iejournalism.fund.
Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy.