After year-end giving wraps up, many fundraisers wonder: How can we set the stage for deeper engagement over time? That's why the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network is hosting a free a workshop on practical ways to steward first-time and one-time donors. Register now and join us Feb. 12:

Threats to Constitutional protections + powerful business and technological changes represent both opportunity and existential risk to local news. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to meet the moment. But at the Local News Summit, attendees were in agreement: Our work must evolve.

Recent events in Minneapolis underscore the need for independent local journalism, writes @dicktofel.bsky.social. At the Lenfest-Aspen Local News Summit, leaders tackled urgent questions on AI, next gen audiences, and First Amendment threats as our industry — and country — faces a turning point.

We're announcing a $25,000 matching grant in support of @startribune.com’s Local News Fund.   The world is watching Minneapolis, and local journalists are working tirelessly to keep their neighbors informed and hold power to account. Please join us in supporting their work.

And we’re off! Excited to kick off our annual Local News Summit in San Antonio with @lenfestinstitute.org. Leaders across media, philanthropy & tech will collaborate on solutions to sustain independent, high-quality local journalism. Last year’s reflections 👇 www.aspendigital.org/blog/urgent-...

As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s closure looms, @inquirer.com’s business strategy serves as a model to replicate, writes Publisher Elizabeth Hughes: “[H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest’s] donation allowed The Inquirer to modernize & transform from a legacy print shop to a modern multiplatform news organization.”

🎉 The Beyond Print program is awarding $400K in grants to support business transformation at 11 independent local newspapers nationwide. Funding supports experiments to reduce print reliance, grow digital revenue & reach younger audiences.

Successful fundraising efforts rely on identifying your biggest opportunities & prioritizing them accordingly. The Lenfest News Philanthropy Network is hosting a workshop on Jan. 29 with Rebecca Forman, chief development officer at Report Local. Join us for practical donor screening strategies ⬇️

“To save, reinvent, or perhaps replace the Post-Gazette, it is instructive to look at recent local news investment in Philadelphia and Baltimore.” After the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced its plans to close, @jimfriedlich.bsky.social explores paths forward for the city in an @inquirer.com op-ed.

Amid growing challenges with third-party platforms, newsrooms are prioritizing direct, reliable connections with their audiences. To explore new ways to engage readers, we’re partnering with SMS platform Subtext to conduct a pilot program at six Statewide News Collective newsrooms ⬇️

Calling all Philadelphians: We’ve got a new tool to help you stay up to date on the city policies that matter to you most. Every Voice, Every Vote just launched the Solutions Progress Report, a one-stop shop to help you track various initiatives launched by city government to address key issues ⬇️

Cheers to 2025! Join the Lenfest Communities of Practice on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST for a year-end celebration. We’ll reflect on the year, share wins and surprises, and peek at what’s ahead for our communities in 2026. Members of all Lenfest communities are invited to join.

Are you interested in joining us for the 2026 Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit? Mark your calendars: If you’d like to attend or pitch a session, the call for participation form is opening this Thursday, Dec. 11, at noon EST / 9 a.m. PST.

Every Voice, Every Vote intentionally created opportunities for its partners to connect and learn about each other’s work. The result? More than 200 instances of collaboration across the coalition — all of which developed naturally.

Applications are open for the Philadelphia Media Founders Exchange Creators Network, which supports partnerships between media founders and news-focused creators. If you’re interested in applying, don’t miss this virtual info session happening Monday, Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m. EST:

“Independent journalists usually don’t have teams who can evaluate potential funders. So what can you do to ensure a funder is ethically aligned?” @lizkellynelson.com of Project C & Mollie Muchna of @trustingnews.bsky.social share tips for assessing funders + funder disclosures for creators.

At the @newsproduct.org Summit, Meena Thiruvengadam says concerns about safety shifted the conversation around audience engagement: “In a world where people can be barred from crossing borders because of a post or like online, newsrooms may have to rethink the way they measure success.”

Happening tomorrow: Join the Lenfest Communities of Practice for 2 webinars ⬇️ 1. Don’t let valuable audience research sit on the shelf! Ariel Zirulnick joins the Lenfest Audience Community at 2 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. PST to share how orgs can use audience data to inform product & editorial strategy:

“If journalists want to be viewed as trusted messengers, they have to get clear about what sets their product apart.” As part of the Creator Journalism Trust and Credibility Toolkit, Mollie Muchna from @trustingnews.bsky.social shares how transparency can take creator journalists to the next level:

Creator journalists are already beginning to play a key role in reaching diverse audiences. But “without intentional investment,” writes @lizkellynelson.com, “many of these voices risk fading just as they are beginning to prove their value to the wider information ecosystem.”

Every Voice, Every Vote is launching a new Community Conversation event series next week: Join residents, educators, policymakers, and journalists for “Reimagining Education — Funding, Accountability, and the Future of Learning in Philadelphia” on Monday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. at North 10.

Today we’re announcing $1 million in new investments to support partnerships between content creators and publishers that unite the rigor and infrastructure of established newsrooms with the innovation and cultural relevance of creators. These investments include two grant programs 🧵 ⬇️

In last week’s general election, the unprecedented happened: Voter turnout in Philadelphia reached a 20-year high as 35.4% of registered voters cast ballots in races for district attorney, city controller, and state and local judgeships — higher than that of any recent Philly mayoral election.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Lenfest Expert Network, a free service connecting local news orgs with consultants who provide hands-on support to strengthen sustainability, audience engagement, and digital transformation. Learn more about how to join:

As year-end giving season approaches, now is the time to inspire deeper support for local journalism. Join the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network for a workshop this Thursday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. PST to learn about a new messaging toolkit for local news created by Press Forward.

Is your local news organization looking to reduce its reliance on its print product? Apply now for Beyond Print grants, which support experiments in accelerating digital sustainability. Applications are open now through Nov. 17:

Artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism — but how can you use it responsibly and effectively in your daily work? Join us in Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. EST for a free, hands-on, in-person workshop designed specifically for journalists, editors, and audience professionals.

Creator journalists are becoming essential components of local news ecosystems. But how can news funders determine which creators are credible sources of local news and worthy of investing in? The Creator Journalism Trust and Credibility Toolkit is here to help.

Save the date: The Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit is returning in 2026! Join The Lenfest Institute, Press Forward, and hundreds of local news fundraising professionals from around the world from May 18–20, 2026 in Philadelphia 💸💡🤝

Independent local newspapers: Apply now for Beyond Print grants, which support experiments to reduce reliance on print, accelerate digital sustainability, embrace new distribution platforms, and reach new and younger audiences.

Michael Days, a pillar of Philadelphia journalism who championed young Black journalists and was beloved among reporters who worked for him at the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer, died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 72 in Trenton.

The Lenfest Institute congratulates former Lenfest Institute Board member and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, investigative journalist, and editor Amanda Bennett, who received the 2025 Freedom of the Press Career Achievement Award from @rcfp.org last night in New York City.

If you're in Philadelphia this week, don't miss “Free Speech at the Crossroads: A Keystone Dialogue," taking place Oct. 15-16 at Temple University. Georgetown University’s Free Speech Project will explore the state of free speech in America alongside public officials, scholars, & journalists.

As part of the Lenfest AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program, in partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft, the fellows have already tested and launched several AI tools that help employees streamline their workflows — and now, they’re sharing their code for your newsroom to learn from, too.

"Keep up with your people. Celebrate their wins. Be there for them when life happens. Make an effort to see them when you’re in their town, or they’re in yours. Ask for help when you need it, and offer help when you can give it." Meena knows what is up.

The Lenfest News Philanthropy Network is hosting a workshop on Oct. 16 at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT featuring @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social. Learn insights from the broader philanthropic field — including details on donor trends, tax laws, and more — and how you can apply them to local news.

“Yes, journalism is a craft. Yes, it’s a business. But more than anything, it’s a people practice.” Meena Thiruvengadam, our Lenfest Audience Community facilitator, shared how connection and community were top-of-mind at #ONA25 earlier this month 👇

Two weeks to go! Conference updates: • Expanding to address the accelerating challenges • Group discounts and individual support available • Complete agenda, conference faculty and more Info and tickets: PCGVR.org

Service-oriented journalism can help provide deeper impact data and ensure your reporting is relevant. But how can we adopt this approach when so many systems in our industry are resistant to change? Madison Karas & @pboehler.net explored this idea through workshops and one-on-one sessions 👇

Update from #ONA25: The inaugural Project C Creator Cohort is on the ground in New Orleans! We partnered with Project C and @journalists.org to bring 10 independent journalists to this year's conference to learn, network, and represent the growing field of creator journalism.

Attending #ONA25? Join us this afternoon for a panel with fellows from the Lenfest AI Collaborative & Fellowship Program, in partnership with OpenAI & Microsoft. Stop by Empire CD at 4 p.m. for working demos, lessons on development and rollout, and open-source code you can use in your own newsroom.

There’s no time like the present to get serious about digital transformation, and the Beyond Print Diagnostic is here to help. Take the free survey to assess where you are in your journey and receive personalized recommendations and resources straight from the Beyond Print Toolkit 📊📰

Hiring for an AI role but not sure what to look for? As part of the Lenfest AI Collaborative & Fellowship Program in partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft, we pulled together a practical guide to help local news organizations take the guesswork out of building AI capacity 🤖🤝💡

What happens when you bring together recent journalism graduates, local publishers in need of new talent, and a local funder with connections across the news ecosystem? In New Mexico, it led to the New Mexico Local News Fellowship and Internship Program, which launched in 2019.

“Supporting your local newsroom should feel no more complicated than checking out at your neighborhood store — tap your card, get your goods, walk away knowing you contributed to something essential.” How the Syndex team is developing tools with a human touch to encourage giving 👇

“Supporting PJC’s involvement in the Economic Opportunity Lab will lift the voices and perspectives of Philadelphians in this national conversation on solutions to improving economic mobility,” said Shawn Mooring, The Lenfest Institute’s head of Philadelphia Programs

The Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative, which is housed at the Center for Community-Engaged Media at ‪@tukleincollege.bsky.social‬, is launching the project as part of the 2025-2026 Economic Opportunity Lab, a national journalism effort led by the Local Media Association and Comcast.

The Lenfest Institute is proud to support the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative’s new economic mobility project, which will use solutions journalism to tell community-informed stories that highlight pathways to economic mobility and inform public policy in Philadelphia.

“News outlets…benefit from the reach and reputation of established NPR affiliates, while the stations receive quality, local coverage that they often struggle to provide with fewer resources.” — Carolyn Jewell of NPR on the untapped potential of public media collaborations ⬇️

Want to better track and communicate the impact of your journalism? Join the Lenfest Communities of Practice this Thursday at 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT for a workshop on implementing a service framework to track how your news org’s reporting is affecting the community: