Category Archives: News

More than a decade ago, veteran journalist and educator Joe Grimm studied Michigan’s local news landscape for a media ecosystem report. When he recently read The Pivot Fund’s new Michigan analysis, he saw something unsettling: many of the same challenges remain. “That’s why I’m scared,” Grimm said. “The same problems we had 10 years agoContinue reading “What community publishers can learn from Michigan’s news ecosystem”

As federal support for the social safety nets shrinks and funders are stretched thin, many community newsrooms are looking for sustainable partners closer to home. One place they are increasingly finding support: faith communities. Across the country, community-rooted outlets are building relationships with churches and other faith institutions — not only for financial support, butContinue reading “Community Media Is Turning to Faith Communities for Support”

Across West Virginia, public decisions are increasingly made without journalists — or residents — in the room. Legislative committees meet. Boards vote. Agencies set policies that shape daily life. Yet in many rural communities, no one is consistently present to witness and document what happens. When meetings go uncovered, decisions affecting education, healthcare, labor protectionsContinue reading “A Scalable Model for Rebuilding Rural Civic Information Systems: Black by God’s Folk Reporters Program”

We are no longer taking applications for this role. Location: Remote (U.S.) | Reports to: CEO | Works closely with: Chief Development Officer Direct reports: Portfolio manager, Communications manager (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. WeContinue reading “We’re Hiring: Director of Programs”

A Great Lakes study of nearly 5,000 residents reveals that the crisis in local news isn’t access — it’s relevance. It’s been more than a decade since Tracie Powell — now founder and CEO of The Pivot Fund — emailed me with a simple question: Would I partner with her on a study examining howContinue reading “Journalism’s True North: The Audience”

Across West Virginia, public decisions are increasingly made without journalists or residents in the room. Legislative committees meet. Boards vote. Agencies set policies that shape daily life. In many rural communities, no one is consistently there to witness and document what happened, and that absence is an accountability problem. Pivot grantee partner, Black by God,Continue reading “Black by God’s Folk Reporters are rebuilding rural civic coverage in West Virginia”

Print isn’t dead. For many communities, it’s infrastructure. In the digital-first era, print is often framed as a platform newsrooms should move away from. But for many community-rooted and immigrant-serving outlets, print is central to their mission. It’s tied to how trust is built and it’s key for helping people access vital information, and theContinue reading “Why Print Still Matters for Community and Immigrant-Serving Newsrooms”

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”