Foundation will double journalism aid

NEW YORK — The Knight Foundation said it will invest $300 million in local journalism over the next five years, seeding several programs designed to kick-start an industry decimated by layoffs and newspaper closures over the past 15 years.

The plans, announced Tuesday, will double the amount of spending made in this area over the past few years by the foundation started by newspaper publisher brothers John S. and James L. Knight.

Among the beneficiaries are the American Journalism Project, which provides grants to local nonprofit news organizations; the investigative site ProPublica; Report for America, a service organization that pays for the hiring of local journalists; and PBS’ Frontline, the documentary program that’s making a foray into local news.

“What this initiative aims to do is really help build a future for local news,” said Jennifer Preston, vice president for journalism at the Knight Foundation.

Until 2005, Knight had focused much of its journalism philanthropy on education. But it began focusing on helping news organizations weather the technological changes to the industry and, since 2015, has funded more local projects. They include supporting an effort by 17 news organizations in the Philadelphia area for a report on the effects of mass incarceration.

Preston said Knight hoped its commitment would spur other funding sources to join in support of local news.

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