Building the Systems for Sustainable Local News

Great journalism doesn’t always translate into a sustainable business—but it should.

Across the country, community-based newsrooms are producing trusted, high-impact journalism that strengthens civic life, particularly in rural, underserved, and historically marginalized communities. Yet many of these outlets lack the systems to consistently measure and communicate their impact in ways that resonate with funders and partners.

That gap matters. When impact is hard to see, it’s easier to underfund—even when the work is essential.

At The Pivot Fund, we see impact everywhere across our grantee network. We see it in WhatsApp groups where immigrant-led publications have gone underground to share critical news and safety information when traditional channels fall silent. We see it when a grantee partner launches a food distribution effort after the last grocery store closes in a historically Black neighborhood—connecting rural farmers with urban residents while ensuring families can access fresh food. And we see it in countless, often unseen moments where trusted local journalism steps in to meet urgent community needs in real time.

The challenge is not whether impact exists. It’s whether our systems are built to recognize it.

That’s why The Pivot Fund is developing a human-centered measurement system to help community newsrooms track what matters most—growth, sustainability, and real-world impact—without adding burden. The goal is simple: make it easier for outlets to learn from their work and for funders to see collective progress.

This shared approach will:

• Use simple, accessible tools any newsroom can adopt
• Combine quantitative metrics (audience, revenue, staffing) with qualitative insights (trust, influence, civic impact)
• Support network-wide learning, not just individual reporting

In 2026, we’ll pilot this system with a small group of grantees, refine it based on real-world use, and then scale it across our network. This test-and-learn approach ensures the tool strengthens newsroom decision-making while giving funders clearer insight into what works.

Because sustainability isn’t just about money.
It’s about clarity, collaboration, and capacity.

If we can measure what matters, we can fund what works—and build a stronger future for local news.