The Pivot Fund

The Pivot Fund has awarded over $1.2 million in grants to grassroots news organizations serving communities of color from the Pacific Northwest to South Florida. This marks a significant expansion of The Pivot Fund’s mission to empower local journalism and foster a more inclusive media landscape. #journalism #community #civicnews #civicinformation #communityengagement Learn about them here:

Pivot Fund grantee partner, The Kansas City Defender's Ryan A. Sorrell, named among "Journalists to Watch in 2025" by Huffington Post's Philip Lewis.

📢 Join Us and Latinas Represent for an Impactful Webinar! "Reporting Responsibly on Immigration Policies in Times of Crisis" 🗓️ When: January 15, 2025 | 6:00 PM EST 📍 Where: Virtual This event brings together journalists, policymakers, nonprofit advocates, and activists for a meaningful dialogue on addressing immigration challenges. We'll explore: ✅ Strategies for bridging gaps between key stakeholders ✅ Promoting balanced, culturally inclusive reporting ✅ Collaborative approaches to strengthening democracy Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation and shape inclusive narratives that matter. 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dHBVTK6Y #Immigration #InclusiveReporting #Democracy #ImmigrationPolicy #MediaDiversity

Join Our Webinar! 📣Breaking Barriers in Immigration Reporting: A Collaborative Approach In today's complex media landscape, addressing immigration requires more than traditional reporting. We're bringing together journalists, policymakers, and advocates to create a transformative dialogue that goes beyond headlines. Our mission is clear: Bridge divides between different professional perspectives Challenge existing narratives Build deeper understanding of migration challenges Develop more nuanced, inclusive coverage By uniting diverse voices, we can foster meaningful conversations that illuminate the human stories behind immigration policies and experiences. Join us in reimagining how we approach, discuss, and report on immigration. Together, we can strengthen our democratic dialogue and create more empathetic, informed public discourse. Register here: https://bit.ly/4gcwwK7 #ImmigrationReporting #MediaDialogue #SocialImpact #JournalismForChange

In her essay, “What if we embraced news as a public good?”, Courtney Lewis of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) makes a compelling case that newspapers’ past glory days as commercial products have us chasing the wrong metrics for the news industry’s future. If, instead of focusing on revenue and audience size, we recognize that news is a public good — like the utilities that keep our lights on and roads safe — then we would be ready to support it through public subsidies and measure the impact it delivers in return. Indeed, embracing news as a public good is more than a shift in perception. It involves shifts by news organizations, funders, government and education — adding up to news reclaiming its place as a trusted, beneficial, and essential service in people’s lives. Lewis gives examples of news organizations that are already leading this shift — here’s my playbook for what still needs to happen:

The Pivot Fund is now on Blue Sky! 🌟 We’re excited to connect with you on another platform where we’ll continue sharing stories, insights, and updates that matter. Let’s build community and keep the conversation going. Find us on Blue Sky at: @pivotfund.bsky.social See you there! 💬 #ThePivotFund #BlueSky #StayConnected

💡 Seven years ago, in a Nieman Journalism Lab prediction, our CEO warned about the muting of underserved voices in media and its implications for equitable storytelling. This Pew report not only confirms but validates that prediction, revealing how systemic disparities in media representation—exacerbated by gender and political imbalances—continue to dominate the news influencer space. These findings from Pew Research underscore why the work of The Pivot Fund is so critical in reshaping the media landscape. The dominance of men, coupled with a significant political tilt—particularly on platforms like Facebook, where right-leaning news influencers outnumber their liberal counterparts three to one—reveals a concerning imbalance in who gets to shape public discourse. This disparity not only skews the perspectives shared but also limits diverse voices and narratives that truly reflect the communities most impacted by today’s pressing issues. The Pivot Fund exists to challenge these inequities by investing in digital-first BIPOC-led newsrooms and underrepresented storytellers who are often overlooked by traditional philanthropy. These outlets play a vital role in delivering nuanced, community-centered journalism that reflects the realities and priorities of marginalized communities. By supporting hyperlocal, independent news organizations, The Pivot Fund amplifies voices that can counterbalance the existing dominance of conservative narratives and broaden the range of perspectives influencing public understanding. The gender disparity in news creation also underscores the importance of funding media organizations led by women, particularly women of color, whose insights and leadership can enrich the media ecosystem. The work we do is about more than just sustaining journalism; it's about building a media landscape that is equitable, inclusive, and representative of the diverse audiences it serves. In a world where algorithms and funding favor dominant voices, The Pivot Fund is working to ensure that the power of storytelling and truth-telling is shared equitably.

Pivot Fund CEO Tracie Powell explores the challenges and opportunities independent news outlets face under the upcoming Trump Administration.

285 South is a tiny publication. I launched it in 2021 as a newsletter, and thanks to the support of The Pivot Fund this year, we've been been able to grow and now thankfully have a full time reporter - Gabriela Henriquez. Incredibly, we are *still* the only English-language news publication dedicated to Metro Atlanta’s diverse immigrant communities. Looking ahead into next year is of course daunting, but we're determined to press on because we know firsthand that our stories have helped people. If you're looking to support local journalism dedicated to immigrant communities in the South, please think of us: https://lnkd.in/ew6iqcHU

Two mentions about Courrier Eco Latino's obit platform and The Pivot Fund's Style Guide in Poynter Institute's newsletter, Halloween edition! Nice!! Thanks, Poynter!! Wane Hailes Janell Williams Kirsten J. Barnes #journalisminnovation #mediamentions #communitymedia #journalism #communityengagement