Lenfest Institute 2024 Impact Report

Local journalism is at an inflection point.

Across the United States, local newspapers are continuing to disappear at a concerning rate and many remaining outlets are being consolidated into hedge fund-backed chains solely focused on extracting profit. Meanwhile, bad-faith actors are stepping into these voids to share politically motivated misinformation masquerading as news.

Despite these troubling trends, there are signs of hope. Locally owned legacy newspapers are transforming themselves into digital powerhouses, journalism entrepreneurs are creating community-focused publications that put the public’s interest first, and individuals are turning to less traditional platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to share important information with their communities.

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is at the vanguard of the movement to reinvent local journalism.

Today, I’m pleased to share a copy of our 2024 Impact Report, which details how your support made our work possible over the past year.

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Here in Philadelphia, the Institute has deepened its commitment to Every Voice, Every Vote, a coalition of community and news organizations providing in-depth journalism and catalyzing civic action, with nearly $3 million in new grant funding thanks to the support of the William Penn Foundation and other generous funders.

As the non-controlling owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Institute has supported The Inquirer’s ongoing transformation through investments in digital technology, marketing strategies, and high-quality journalism that helped The Inquirer reach 118,500 digital subscribers for the first time in 2024.

The Institute’s investment in Spotlight PA, now an independent nonprofit newsroom sharing its coverage with more than 125 Pennsylvania publishers, empowered nonpartisan election resources that made it easier for Pennsylvanians to cast informed votes.

As we embark into 2025, the Institute plans to expand its work across the country to help leaders in other cities replicate the successes we’ve seen in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. We are partnering with OpenAI and Microsoft to launch the Lenfest AI Collaborative and Fellowship program, a $10 million initiative that will enable eight metro news organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, to utilize artificial intelligence tools to enhance their businesses.

And in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Institute is launching the Knight Communities Network to mentor and advise leaders in eight cities across the country as they work to expand their own local news ecosystems.

We are grateful for your continued support of The Lenfest Institute, and we look forward to continuing to share updates on our progress investing in the next generation of local news.

With thanks,

Jim Friedlich

Executive Director and CEO

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

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