Category Archives: News

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”

When federal immigration authorities detained veteran journalist Mario Guevara this summer, the ripple effects spread far beyond his family. Guevara, who has reported on and for Atlanta’s Spanish-speaking community for more than a decade, has become one of the longest-jailed journalists in the United States. His detention has raised alarms not only about press freedomContinue reading “Carrying the Torch: Oscar Guevara Steps Up for MG News”

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”

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”

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”

A movement newsroom building lasting infrastructure, deep trust, and measurable impact—on and offline For funders committed to equity, sustainability, and civic engagement, The Kansas City Defender offers a compelling case study in what’s possible when journalism is rooted in service and supported for the long haul. This month, the Black-led newsroom is launching a $500,000 capital campaign—notContinue reading “The Kansas City Defender Redefines Journalism, Cultural Legacy”

Supported by The Pivot Fund, this strategic hire strengthens Spanish-language journalism in Arizona—bringing credible local news to a medium long plagued by misinformation. With dedicated support from The Pivot Fund, Radio Campesina has hired veteran journalist Ernesto Rodríguez—a milestone that marks a bold step forward in the station’s mission to deliver trusted, community-rooted journalism across Arizona.Continue reading “New Radio Campesina Hire Aims to Build Trust on Latino Airwaves”

Preserving Culture, Powering Change: How The Kansas City Defender is Building a Legacy—One Book at a Time In a moment that embodies what community media can be when rooted in purpose, The Kansas City Defender is doing far more than chasing headlines. It’s preserving Black history, investing in Black futures, and redefining what service to community truly means.Continue reading “The Local Outlet Saving Missouri’s Oldest Black-Owned Bookstore”

From Facebook Posts to Public Safety: Why Community Media in Little Earth Deserves Investment In Little Earth—a multi-tribal, culturally rich neighborhood in Minneapolis—local journalism doesn’t come from studios or pressrooms. It’s created by neighbors. Community members like Jolene Jones and Cassie Holmes spend 30–40 hours a month moderating the Little Earth Residents 411 Facebook group, which now serves moreContinue reading “Minnesota Community Outlets Are Shaping Collaborative Journalism”

The Pivot Fund is proud to welcome journalist, author and nonprofit leader Frances Kai-Hwa Wang to its growing team as portfolio manager, where she will help grantees elevate their journalism and build their sustainability.  With decades of experience in journalism, teaching and management, Wang strengthens The Pivot Fund’s mission to provide direct funding and culturallyContinue reading “Journalist, Scholar Frances Kai-Hwa Wang joins The Pivot Fund”