Nearly $7 million will support local news organizations in swing states and beyond
MIAMI—In response to growing concerns about voters accessing quality information surrounding the 2024 elections, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced an investment of $6.9 million to bolster election news coverage, primarily in swing states. This response includes the launch of an online hub of resources and a collaboration with The Associated Press to support small news organizations. The goal is to empower publishers with the capacity to help voters make informed decisions about local and statewide elections and ballot initiatives.
Local news organizations in key battleground states will gain access to resources that might otherwise be inaccessible. This includes election-related coverage, explainers, and training for journalists from The Associated Press, a provider of nonpartisan election-related information and among the only news organizations with a 50-state footprint.
Additionally, the Knight Election Hub offers a collection of more than 100 free and subsidized pre-screened resources such as data, software, polling, and training – as well as a number of paid services funded by Knight – for newsrooms covering elections. For example, Sunlight Search will train journalists for in-depth investigations on candidates, while OpenSecrets will help track the funding behind candidates and causes. The Election Hub aims to lower barriers to these resources, empowering local newsrooms to better serve their communities. And, as new challenges such as deepfakes arise, the Election Hub will continue to expand its offerings to meet evolving needs. Funding will also be made available to augment the capacity of journalism support organizations so they can guide publishers’ selection and adoption of technology through training, information sessions and vendor negotiation.
One local news organization in each swing state will also receive a grant to serve as an “anchor”, bolstering the distribution of election-related coverage with editorial partners in their state. These collaborations will address coverage gaps, expanding the public’s access to the highest quality election-related news.
“The news crisis in America is urgent, and its devastating impact on American democracy is felt more acutely during election season,” said Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth. “Philanthropy must move at the speed of news, and this means we must act swiftly when the situation demands it. Now is one of those times.”
Founded by the Knight brothers, who led one of America’s largest and most successful 20th-century newspaper companies, Knight has consistently been the largest investor in journalism in the country. Together with the MacArthur Foundation, Knight are the lead funders of Press Forward, an initiative aimed at revitalizing local news with more than $500 million over five years. During an election season, publishers demonstrate their indispensable role in providing critical information that empowers voters to make informed decisions about who should represent them.
“Our hope is that this support not only will provide voters with the information they need to make informed decisions in November, but that it also provides news organizations with the boost they need to sustain their capacity to engage communities well into the future,” said Wadsworth.
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