At the heart of everything we do is a vision for a vibrant community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. We know that information is vital for residents to thrive — both now and in the future.
Informed citizens create engaged and connected communities.
Like many U.S. communities, Monroe County and the Indiana Uplands region have been impacted by the decline of local print newspapers and diminishing local news coverage. Our community’s small network of news professionals is working diligently to fill news needs. However, consistent studies are showing that communities without comprehensive and trusted local news coverage are experiencing a loss of transparency, accountability, connectedness, and civic engagement.
In the past year, the Community Foundation has been exploring how we might play a role in addressing local news challenges as a community organizer, convener, funder, and partner. Through collaboration, we hope to find ways to build resilience and strengthen our local and regional news ecosystem.
Below is a summary of some of our recent activities related to local news.
Monroe County Local News Survey
In March 2024, the Community Foundation worked with the IU Center for Survey Research to develop and launch a local news survey. The purpose was to gather feedback on where residents get their news and how they view local news sources in order to identify gaps, needs, and opportunities for an improved local news landscape.
Over the 30 days the survey was open online, nearly 2,000 residents responded to share their opinions, insights, and suggestions for improvement. Topline Survey Report coming soon.
Local News Summit
In late September 2024, the Community Foundation, in partnership with the IU Media School and IU Ostrom Workshop, convened 70 journalists and local news advocates to exchange initial ideas and explore some innovative ways we might improve our local and regional news ecosystems.
In addition to Monroe County news collaborators, we were joined by several presenters who shared promising and emerging journalism models, including :
- Brant Houston, Institute for Nonprofit News
- Lori Henson, Rebuild Local News
- Lisa Renze, Free Press Indiana
- Stephanie Wang, Lumina Foundation & Press Forward
We envision the summit as just the first opportunity to collaborate on local news solutions. Stay tuned for future opportunities.
Photos: ©Doc Searls
Deep Dive Collaboration Series
In 2023, the Community Foundation awarded an Impact Grant to two nonprofit news organizations, WFHB Community Radio and Limestone Post, to collaborate and combine coverage on community issues, such as housing, health, or the environment. With match funding from the Knight Foundation, the Deep Dive series was extended for a second year. Learn more>>.
Local News Fund
This fund was seeded by the auction of Bloomington Herald-Times bound newspaper books, and it is growing today thanks to individual donor support.
The purpose of the Local News Fund is to support the reporting of local news for a robust, thriving, accessible, and comprehensive local news landscape in Monroe County and the surrounding communities. Examples of potential grants from this fund include but are not limited to nonprofit journalism organizations, funds for capacity building of local news organizations, and local collaboratives for news reporting.
Support the future of local news in Monroe County.