Seven Alaska news organizations are among the 205 awarded $100,000 each by the Press Forward national coalition to Close Local Coverage Gaps.

Alaska news organizations applying for Press Forward’s national pooled fund open call for coverage in underserved communities may sign up for office hours with a nonprofit philanthropy consultant before the June 12 application deadline.

Prospective donors, community leaders and journalists gathered in Anchorage for the launch of Press Forward Alaska this April. Events took place during "J-Week," the annual conference of news professionals hosted by the Alaska Press Club. The Atwood Foundation, Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism fund and Alaska Press Club hosted John Palfrey of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Jim Brady of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. 

April 30, 2024 - Local news outlets can now apply for Press Forward’s first open call for funding, focused on addressing local news’ historic coverage gaps. At least 100 local newsrooms will receive grants of around $100,000. Small local news organizations, with budgets up to $1 million, are eligible.

A growing coalition of funders today announced the next phase of their plan to strengthen local news at an unprecedented level: Press Forward Locals. A network of local chapters across the country—starting in Alaska; Chicago; Minnesota; Philadelphia; Springfield, Illinois; and Wichita—are springing up as funders are coordinating or collaborating across states and regions to bring new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news.

Press Forward Alaska will be led by the Atwood Foundation, with administrative assistance from the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism fund.