Civic information — reliable information that people need to make decisions affecting their community [1] — is the backbone of a democratic society. High-quality, relevant local news and information help people understand what’s happening in their communities, connect them with neighbors, raise awareness about critical issues, and help advance solutions to their problems. [2]

Yet, in recent years, declining advertising revenues, shifting audience attention, and increasing media consolidation have led to a decline in the number of journalists and the closure of thousands of local news outlets in the U.S. and worldwide.[3] In the United States, many people can no longer access basic information about their communities.[4] Studies show that rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color are particularly vulnerable,[5] though the disappearance of civic information affects everyone.

No matter what cause or community you care about, ensuring the availability of relevant, timely, and reliable news and information can amplify your impact. That’s because high-quality civic information raises awareness of issues, furthers understanding of problems, highlights promising solutions, and helps mobilize stakeholders to act collectively to improve the places they live.

High-quality news and information advances causes. Trustworthy information, reliable data, and common understanding are fundamental to addressing pressing social issues. For example, if you support nonprofits working on the environment or public health, supporting news outlets and reliable grassroots information sources covering those topics can accelerate your impact.[6] As part of its environment program, the Walton Family Foundation funds environmental journalists covering the changing climate. These newsrooms provide readers with essential information about how climate change transforms the landscapes they call home.

For place-based funders, supporting civic information in your community can raise awareness about issues specific to your region and give voice to underserved constituencies uniquely affected by those issues. [7]

Rachel Silverstein, executive director of Miami Waterkeeper, recently told funders at the 2024 Knight Media Forum, “People in the community are sometimes more trusted voices than even established news outlets these days.” Her organization funds storytelling and information to build on their following and share information with the public in real-time.

Civic information encourages collective responses to challenges facing communities. A recent report defined civic information as enabling people to “respond to collective needs by enhancing local coordination, problem-solving, systems of public accountability, and connectedness.” [8] As Kylee Mitchell Well, Executive Director of Southeast Michigan for the Ballmer Group, said at the 2024 Knight Media Forum, “We are a very diverse region; we are a very segregated region. And the way that we can unify is to tell those diverse stories. And that’s what media does.”

Civic information empowers those in the government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors to respond to social challenges. “Missing in Chicago,” for example, is a seven-part investigative series that examines how Chicago police have mishandled missing person cases, revealing a disproportionate impact on Black women and girls. The investigation, which was a collaboration between Chicago-based nonprofit newsrooms City Bureau and Invisible Institute, contributed to tangible policy changes. Within six months of publication, the series prompted the Chicago Inspector General’s office to conduct an official review of police accountability systems that led the City Council to file a resolution calling for a citywide task force on missing women. [9]

Support high-quality civic information that aligns with your priorities. Funders can support local news outlets that meet critical information needs and cover topics relevant to their giving priorities. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) Network now includes 450 nonprofit, nonpartisan outlets across the country. Each member newsroom meets professional journalism standards for editorial independence and donor transparency.[1o] Nonprofit news organizations within the INN Network serve communities from hyperlocal to global and cover a range of topics, including climate, education, and criminal justice.

Join collective giving efforts supporting news and information. Whether you’re a longtime or first-time funder in the news and civic information space, there are plenty of opportunities to maximize your impact through collective giving. Press Forward, for example, is a five-year initiative representing a diverse coalition of local and national funders supporting local news and civic information causes. They have three primary mechanisms for their collective grantmaking: a national pooled fund, aligned funding efforts, and local chapters in nearly two dozen states nationwide. [11] The annual NewsMatch fundraising campaign offers another opportunity for collective giving — donors can contribute to the national matching pool, donate directly to your news outlet of choice, or leverage your gift for an additional match. Learn more about NewsMatch and opportunities for funders here.

Fund efforts to map the changing landscape of news sources and gaps. Funders can support research that maps local news landscapes across the country, assesses audiences’ information needs, and informs future investments. The Joyce Foundation and the McKnight Foundation recently supported The Pivot Fund’s efforts to map news ecosystems in the Great Lakes region. [12] Tim Murphy, program officer at the McKnight Foundation, says the research efforts will also inform the foundation’s giving priorities. Funders, industry groups, and experts can use the insights generated from mapping the current ecosystem to inform where philanthropic support is most urgently needed.

Contributors:

Feather Houstoun, adviser for public media and journalism, Wyncote Foundation; Louisa Lincoln, PhD candidate, Annenberg School of the University of Pennsylvania