Category Archives: Analysis

The stakes for racial equity have never been higher, and philanthropy’s responsibility to act boldly has never been clearer. The recent election results underscore the urgency for philanthropy to embrace race-conscious grantmaking as not only a moral imperative but a strategic one. At The Pivot Fund, our mission centers on supporting culturally competent civic newsContinue reading “Fund Like the Future Depends on It: Our Call To Action”

As powerful corporate and political leaders push a “colorblind meritocracy,” journalism funders must resist efforts to erase discussions of race and equity. Colorblindness upholds the myth of equal access to the American Dream while ignoring well-documented racial disparities in health, income, education, and work that merit alone can’t overcome.  Journalism has a responsibility to tellContinue reading “Supporting Underserved Audiences Amid Anti-DEI Efforts”

At this pivotal moment in history, immigration issues are at the forefront of public discourse, making it more important than ever for BIPOC publishers to amplify immigrant voices and shed light on critical policies. Recently, The Pivot Fund and Latinas Represent hosted a webinar that brought together experts to share insights on how to responsiblyContinue reading “Tips on Navigating Immigration Challenges:Reporting and Policy”

When Dana Amihere (she/her) touched down in Los Angeles after a planned holiday break, she found herself returning to a city grappling with crisis. Fires had ravaged communities, forcing evacuations and leaving countless residents displaced. Within hours of her arrival, Amihere, founder and executive director of AfroLA, opened her home to a friend who had beenContinue reading “Community Journalism in Action: AfroLA Steps Up Amid Disaster”

The role of social media and digital platforms remains contested in some journalism circles, but the latest Pew Research Center report makes it clear: when it comes to legacy versus digital media, digital has won. Digital platforms and social media are now Americans’ dominant news sources. According to Pew, 86% of adults “sometimes” get newsContinue reading “Digital Dominance: How Social Media Redefines Journalism”

By Tracie Powell In her essay, What if we embraced news as a public good?, Coutney Lewis of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) makes a compelling case that newspapers’ past glory days as commercial products have us chasing the wrong metrics for the news industry’s future.  If, instead of focusing on revenue and audience size, weContinue reading “INN explains why we should embrace news as a public good. DIY”

It’s become increasingly clear that critical civic news is failing to reach many of the communities who need it most. Traditional journalism struggles to engage audiences, with many Americans avoiding national news outlets and opting out of subscriptions to local and national newspapers. Yet, the demand for reliable, timely information has never been higher.  AsContinue reading “What Makes The Pivot Fund Research Unique”

Despite extensive media coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign, much of it failed to connect with the public in meaningful ways. By the time the final ballot was cast on election night, it was clear that many Americans had hardly paid attention. Just consider the election-day spike in online searches asking, “Did Joe Biden dropContinue reading “America’s Electoral Crisis: The Local News Disconnect”

Investing in the infrastructure of local news organizations is essential for ensuring their long-term success, sustainability, and resilience. Funders understand that a strong infrastructure serves as the backbone for local journalism, providing the foundation that enables newsrooms to deliver accurate, relevant, and timely information to their communities. These investments often go far beyond just providingContinue reading “How Funders Can Advance Local News by Investing in Infrastructure”

Hey Nonprofit Newsleaders, You may be keeping an eye on HR 9495—and for good reason. This bill,passed by the House today, could give the Treasury Department unprecedented power to revoke nonprofit status without the usual checks and balances. That’s a serious threat to our missions, especially for publishers of color working hard to serve theirContinue reading “HR 9495: What You Can Do Now, No Matter What Happens”