Category Archives: News

Black History Month often arrives wrapped in celebration—progress, perseverance, firsts. But this year, it begins with a sobering reminder that some of the most dangerous chapters of U.S. history are not behind us. They are repeating. Last Thursday, Black journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested for doing their jobs. The charges—widely viewed asContinue reading “Black History Month Begins With a Familiar Repression of the Black Press”

Director of Business Development Location: Remote (U.S.) | Reports to: CEO | Works closely with: Chief Development Officer Direct reports: Director of Learning, Research & Evaluation (and others as applicable) Status: Full-time, Exempt About The Pivot Fund The Pivot Fund empowers independent, community-rooted news outlets serving underrepresented urban and rural communities. We provide funding andContinue reading “We’re Hiring: Director of Business Development”

A field update from Minneapolis on what local publishers everywhere are learning: accountability now depends on resourced networks, not press releases. Field Update Across the country, local publishers are being asked to cover fast-moving enforcement activity, protests, and public safety incidents with fewer reporters, tighter timelines, and higher stakes. In that gap, communities are increasinglyContinue reading “When communities build the public record”

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 andContinue reading “Building the Systems for Sustainable Local News”

Business Development Manager  Location: Remote (U.S.) | Reports to: CEO | Works closely with: Chief Development Officer  Status: Full-time, Exempt  About The Pivot Fund  The Pivot Fund empowers independent, community-rooted news outlets serving underrepresented urban and rural communities. We provide funding and strategic support that strengthen local news ecosystems and help build a more inclusiveContinue reading “We’re Hiring: Business Development Manager”

As the federal government shutdown reaches 38 days, becoming the longest shutdown in U.S. history, millions of families are facing new uncertainty about how they’ll put food on the table. The Trump administration says it will restart the national food assistance program known as SNAP — but only at half the normal benefit level, usingContinue reading “When the System Falters, Community Media Steps Up”

When people want to understand The Pivot Fund, they often start with our people — and for good reason. Our leadership embodies the expertise and cultural competence that make The Pivot Fund a trusted bridge between philanthropy and community-rooted local news. At the center are Tracie Powell, Susan Smith-Richardson, and Jean Marie Brown — threeContinue reading “Led by Black women with deep journalism expertise”

By launching The Pivot Fund’s new website, we’re doing more than showcasing our work—we’re clarifying our place in the growing ecosystem of organizations supporting local news, and why that role matters to the future of journalism and democracy. Too often, people who care deeply about local news philanthropy tell me they’re not quite sure whatContinue reading “Where The Pivot Fund Fits in the Local News Ecosystem”

When Atlanta journalist Mario Guevara was detained by ICE earlier this year while covering a protest, the impact was immediate and devastating. Mario, who has been a trusted voice in Atlanta’s Hispanic community for more than a decade, built MG News into a newsroom reaching more than 112,000 people across the South. His arrest hasContinue reading “Why Supporting Immigrant-Serving Journalism Matters Now”

In Kansas City, a Black-owned newsroom turns reporting into action, tackling food insecurity while rebuilding civic trust. Community-rooted journalism is more than reporting—it listens, responds, and organizes alongside the people it serves. Few examples illustrate this better than Pivot Fund grantee The Kansas City Defender. When the last grocery store in a historically Black neighborhood shutContinue reading “Journalism as Community Power: The KC Defender’s Food Program”