New Press Forward local chapters in Knight communities

Knight Foundation invests $15 million in eight Knight cities

October 14, 2024

Today, Knight Foundation is announcing a $15.5 million investment to grow and sustain Press Forward in Knight cities across the U.S. This significant funding will help local leaders start the process to establish five new local chapters in Gary, Ind., State College, Pa., Tallahassee, Fla., Charlotte, N.C. and South Florida, while bolstering existing ones in Lexington, Ky., Wichita, Kan. and Philadelphia. Now in its second year, Press Forward continues to galvanize momentum behind revitalizing local news and ensure its long-term sustainability, while empowering communities to shape their own media ecosystems.

At the heart of this effort is a shared understanding: local journalism is essential to the fabric of a healthy and vibrant community. Yet, as financial models shift and resources for local reporting dwindle, the long-term outlook for news outlets has become increasingly precarious. Knight’s investment aims to address this head-on, with $1 million going to five communities—Gary, State College, Tallahassee, Lexington and Wichita—and larger investments going to Charlotte ($2 million), South Florida ($3 million) and Philadelphia ($3.3 million). These grants total $13.3 million over five years, and will be used to support essential infrastructure, hire dedicated staff and drive the fundraising efforts necessary to ensure these local ecosystems can flourish. In addition, Knight will invest $2.2 million in The Lenfest Institute for Journalism so it can create a peer network across these Knight communities, offering strategic guidance, mentorship and support to ensure that each Press Forward chapter is positioned for success.

But the vision for Press Forward – and this new set of investments – is about more than simply providing financial aid. It’s about catalyzing a deeper, more enduring commitment from within each community. The initiative is designed to create a foundation that encourages local stakeholders to invest in the future of their own journalism ecosystems. Through a strategic approach that includes matching funds from Knight and support from The Lenfest Institute, Knight is making sure that the effort doesn’t just survive—it thrives, fueled by local dollars and a sense of shared responsibility.

For Knight, this new cohort of Press Forward chapters represents a pivotal moment. These communities have already proven their readiness, demonstrating both the desire and capacity to create vibrant, enduring local journalism ecosystems. They are setting an example for what is possible when communities come together to support local news—and, in turn, strengthen the democratic process.

Central to this initiative is the role of The Lenfest Institute, a national leader in transforming local news. Having spent close to a decade building a robust news ecosystem in Philadelphia, Lenfest will mentor and advise these eight Press Forward chapters. The goal is to foster a spirit of collaboration, where shared knowledge and resources can lift up the entire network of communities.

At the same time, the matching fund structure serves as a catalyst for local fundraising. Knight’s investment is only the beginning; the real long-term sustainability of these local news ecosystems depends on the commitment of local communities. By conditioning some of our funds on the ability to raise local dollars, Knight is ensuring these chapters have a vested interest in their success. This model reinforces the idea that local journalism should be supported by the communities it serves, creating a stronger, more resilient foundation for the future.

This press release was originally published by the Knight Foundation.