Category Archives: News

The Kansas City Defender used part of its new grant from The Pivot Fund to hire its first full-time editorial hire, Mili Mansaray, as its new Editor & Director of Radical Media Initiatives. Committed to fearless and unapologetic community-centered journalism, the Defender is widely lauded for pioneering an innovative dual editorial-community programs model—one of theContinue reading “Pivot Fund Grantee Kansas City Defender Names New Editor”

When Roger Amos joined the Mississippi Free Press (MFP) just a few weeks ago, he entered a newsroom redefining what local journalism can achieve. As a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Roger brings a unique and critical perspective to the MFP team, reflecting the outlet’s commitment to ensuring diverse representation in itsContinue reading “Roger Amos: Telling His Community’s Stories”

The University of Pennsylvania and Impact Architects recently released in-depth, practical guides for philanthropists interested in funding news and information. Both mention The Pivot Fund as a resource, specifically the news landscape analyses at the foundation of Pivot’s approach. Penn’s 2025 High Impact Giving Toolkit, released this month, includes a section on funding News and CivicContinue reading “The Pivot Fund’s Work Spotlighted in New Funder Resources”

In today’s world, journalism isn’t just about telling stories—it’s about building trust, creating lasting connections, and standing up for the communities we serve. No one knows this better than El Tecolote, a bilingual newspaper that’s been part of San Francisco’s Mission District for over 50 years. They’ve made it their mission to offer more than just news—they’re amplifyingContinue reading “El Tecolote: A Story of Journalism Rooted in Community”

Philanthropic intermediaries have long served as bridges, directing funding from large donors to grassroots organizations, but questions remain about their effectiveness and true impact, specifically in the journalism field. The Pivot Fund’s CEO, Tracie Powell, acknowledged this complexity: “This invitation to talk about intermediaries… is kind of a controversial topic right now,” she noted. “ThereContinue reading “Philanthropy Intermediaries: Power, Challenges, and Potential”

The Courier Eco Latino, a Georgia-based publication serving BIPOC communities, is redefining sustainability in local journalism with an innovative approach to revenue generation. With support from The Pivot Fund, the outlet has launched a new online obituary platform that not only serves grieving families but also creates a sustainable, long-term revenue stream. A Revenue ModelContinue reading “How The Courier Eco Latino is Transforming Revenue with Community”

Publications serving BIPOC communities are always exploring new ways to build sustainable revenue while staying deeply connected to their audiences. The Courier Eco Latino, a Columbus, Georgia-based news outlet, is setting a bold example with the launch of its innovative obituary platform. By leaning into strategic partnerships and committing to the needs of its readers,Continue reading “How The Courier Eco Latino is Turning Obituaries into Opportunity”

What is it and why is it important? The 2024 Local News Ecosystems report from Democracy Fund highlights the deepening crisis in local journalism, especially in underserved and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. As more newspapers shut down, over 200 counties across the U.S. are left without any local news outlet, creating information gapsContinue reading “Strengthening Local News Ecosystems: 2024 Report”

Newsrooms can produce culturally competent copy with a single prompt now that The Pivot Fund has uploaded the style guides of the leading journalism diversity organizations into popular artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT.  The Style Guide for Covering Communities of Color integrates best practices from style guides developed by the Asian American Journalists Association, Disabled Journalists Association, Indigenous Journalists Association, NationalContinue reading “The Pivot Fund Assembles an Inclusive Style Guide Using AI”

At last week’s Online News Association conference in Atlanta, small news publishers showcased how they’re using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve real-world challenges. It was clear that innovation often blooms in the face of adversity, and no example stood out more than that of El Toque—a news outlet that’s weathered extraordinary difficulties to deliver essential toolsContinue reading “How a Cuban exile news site used AI to become “Public Enemy #1”