Across the country, community-centered newsrooms are proving something that’s critical for funders to understand: when you invest in capacity, you unlock sustainability. These outlets—led by and for communities long overlooked by traditional media—are trusted in ways few institutions can match. But trust alone doesn’t pay salaries or keep the lights on. What we’ve learned through supportingContinue reading “The Power of Capacity in Community Newsrooms”
Author Archives: Tracie Powell
Leadership in Community Media: Serving as a ‘Helpful Guest’
Myers Reece, executive director of Underscore Native News, shows what it means to lead when the story isn’t yours What does it mean to lead a newsroom deeply rooted in a community that’s not your own? For Myers Reece, executive director of Underscore Native News, it starts with something simple but powerful: respect—for the people, theContinue reading “Leadership in Community Media: Serving as a ‘Helpful Guest’”
Four Public Media x Hyperlocal Partnerships to Watch—And Back
These examples show the value of supporting partnerships between public media and hyperlocal outlets Hyperlocal newsrooms are used to stretching every dollar, every hour, and every reporter. Public media outlets, too, are being pushed to their financial limits. The recent elimination of $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has left more thanContinue reading “Four Public Media x Hyperlocal Partnerships to Watch—And Back”
Partnering with Public Media: Tips for Hyperlocal Newsrooms
Hyperlocal newsrooms are used to stretching every dollar, every hour, and every reporter. Yet, through strategic partnerships—especially with public media—hyperlocal outlets are expanding reach, resources, and impact. These partnerships are becoming even more crucial as public media itself faces major funding challenges. The recent elimination of $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for PublicContinue reading “Partnering with Public Media: Tips for Hyperlocal Newsrooms”
Belonging: The True Measure of Hyperlocal Value
For years, newsrooms were told that success was about reach. Pageviews, clicks, and impressions filled dashboards and board reports. The logic was simple: more visitors meant more ad dollars. But that world has changed. Advertising no longer sustains most local outlets, and today’s audiences find news in fragments—through feeds, alerts, and algorithms. In this environment,Continue reading “Belonging: The True Measure of Hyperlocal Value”
Leading Across Lines: An Asian American Guiding Indigenous News
At Underscore Native News, the community is “ultimately the boss—the guiding force.” What does it mean to lead a newsroom deeply rooted in a community that’s not your own? For Myers Reece, executive director of Underscore Native News, it starts with something simple but powerful: respect—for the people, the culture, and the lived experiences that shapeContinue reading “Leading Across Lines: An Asian American Guiding Indigenous News”
Why We’ve Refreshed Our Brand
The Pivot Fund is proud to unveil a refreshed brand—a new visual identity that reflects the bold, community-centered journalism we support and the ambitious vision we’re working toward: directing $500 million to grassroots news outlets serving historically marginalized communities. This brand update is about more than aesthetics. It’s about clarity of purpose, and aligning how weContinue reading “Why We’ve Refreshed Our Brand”
How Pivot Fund grantees are building sustainability
Turning cultural trust into revenue takes building the right internal capacity.
Lessons from The Baltimore Beat’s Community-Driven Revenue Model
Baltimore Beat, a Black-led, nonprofit newsroom, is building a powerful case for what sustainable, community-rooted journalism can look like—with the right kind of investment and trust from funders. Rather than chasing scale or click-throughs, The Beat is focused on experimentation, innovation, and hyperlocal impact. This ethos—one that many funders champion but few media outlets canContinue reading “Lessons from The Baltimore Beat’s Community-Driven Revenue Model”
How Pivot Fund Grantees Are Building Sustainability
Turning cultural trust into revenue takes building the right internal capacity. Across the country, community-centered newsrooms are navigating a tough balancing act: staying rooted in the people they serve while trying to build revenue models that last. At The Pivot Fund, we’ve been checking in with our grantees—newsrooms led by and for communities long overlookedContinue reading “How Pivot Fund Grantees Are Building Sustainability”