Applications open for Advancing Equity in Local News Grant (US)

These grants are not aimed at solving overall capacity or sustainability issues at Colorado’s media organizations, but authentic and intentional expansion of service to diverse audiences should be a core part of the project’s design.

These grants are intended to catalyze long-term changes in the ways that newsrooms interact with, reflect, and serve communities. Proposals that articulate a long-term vision for what applicants hope to achieve with their projects beyond the year of funding are highly encouraged.

Funding Priorities

• The third round of Advancing Equity in Local News grants will again support projects that address one or more of these three priorities:
  • Support internal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) capacity-building efforts in Colorado newsrooms
    • When Colorado newsrooms have inclusive workplace cultures they can successfully recruit, retain and promote reporters who represent the communities they serve, and are better equipped to cover communities with the respect, nuance, and completeness they deserve.
    • Project Examples: DEI training for newsroom leaders and reporters; content audit initiatives or projects to examine trends in sourcing, framing and/or language; leadership development for journalists of color or representing diverse perspectives or abilities, and more. Funding from The Colorado Trust will support DEI capacity-building in Colorado newsrooms aimed at creating inclusive workplace cultures.
  • Strengthen connections and build trust between Colorado newsrooms and the diverse communities they serve
    • Local newsrooms can be hubs for trusted civic news, but building and sustaining that trust requires strong, ongoing, two-way connections between newsrooms and the local community members they serve, especially with communities of color, and others whose perspectives and stories have historically been left out of or distorted by coverage. Funding will support newsrooms and community members in developing new projects and durable connections that help meet community needs and amplify diverse perspectives.
    • Project Examples: Engaged elections projects that center community priorities; community engagement or reporting projects co-designed by newsrooms and community groups; public accountability boards that provide ongoing and actionable community feedback to newsrooms; systemic approaches to connect newsrooms with expert sources, storytellers and collaborators from diverse communities; and more. Funding from RootEd Denver will support projects that seek to expand the role of diverse youth and family voices and perspectives in local coverage.
  • Support more diverse and inclusive civic news leadership, entrepreneurship, ownership and narratives
    • Colorado’s current local journalism workforce is overwhelmingly white and concentrated in the Front Range, which narrows the range of issues and voices amplified in the state. When Coloradans read, see and hear about concerns, struggles, triumphs and perspectives from neighbors and families not like their own, it can build common understanding and point to solutions. Funding will support projects that advance equity and shift narratives through projects developed by and for communities of color, rural communities, and other historically marginalized groups.
    • Project Examples: Capacity-building that develops media leadership, entrepreneurship, storytelling or reporting skills among journalists, content creators and residents of color, low-income residents, or those from rural or other underserved communities; support for media ownership transitions, innovations or growth that significantly impact communities of color, rural or other underserved communities; editorial projects led by and for those whose stories are not being told; and more.

Funding Information

• Grant amounts will vary depending on the scope of the projects and the total number of outlets funded. The total grant amount per project for most projects will range between $5,000 and $25,000, with potential for more funding for projects that involve multiple partners and/or deliver more impact.

Who may apply?

• Colorado nonprofit news organizations and small, locally owned and operated for-profit or public benefit newsrooms are qualified to apply as lead applicants; for-profit newsrooms owned by corporations or investors may access project support by applying as part of a collaborative application with a qualified lead applicant.
• Nonprofit community organizations that are proposing to collaborate with one or more Colorado news or media organization/s.
• Projects initiated by freelance journalists, storytellers, or media entrepreneurs must apply under a fiscal sponsor, which is a nonprofit or for-profit news organization or nonprofit community organization.
• Applicants must be located in Colorado and/or projects must primarily serve Colorado communities.
• New applicants as well as current and previous CMP grantees are eligible to apply, including recipients of AELN funds in 2023 who are seeking 2024 continuation grants or funding for new projects. Such applicants will be asked to outline whether the newly proposed project relates to their other CMP-funded work.

For more information, visit Colorado Media Project.