At the Community Foundation, our vision is a vibrant community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. We believe access to reliable, trustworthy information is essential for all residents—now and into the future.
Strong communities need strong local news.
Local news equips residents with the facts and context needed to participate in and shape our community. When storms hit, roads close, or important decisions are made, local reporters are here first—offering the trusted coverage you need to make choices for your family and neighborhood.
Like many places across the country, Monroe County and the Indiana Uplands region have felt the impact of shrinking local news coverage. Our small network of local news professionals works hard to fill these gaps, but research shows that transparency, accountability, and civic engagement suffer when robust local news decreases.
That’s why the Community Foundation is stepping up to help. By bringing together people and resources, we aim to strengthen and sustain a resilient local news ecosystem—so our community stays informed, connected, and empowered.
Below is a summary of some of our recent local news activities.
In February 2026, Indiana University announced a new learning lab, funded by a two-year, $300,000 grant from the Community Foundation, to expand local coverage and to provide paid experiential learning opportunities for IU student journalists. The learning lab will operate using a content-sharing model. Professional and student news organizations will partner with students under the guidance of a new Media School faculty member.
In September 2025, our community was announced as one of three new Indiana Press Forward Local Chapters. We’re grateful to Press Forward for the opportunity to join a growing network of communities bringing new energy and investment to local journalism.
By joining Press Forward, Bloomington and Monroe County will gain access to collaborative strategies, partnerships, and resources that support strong, sustainable local journalism for the future. Stay tuned for more announcements about Press Forward Bloomington and Monroe County.
In late September 2024, the Community Foundation, in partnership with the IU Media School and the IU Ostrom Workshop, convened 70 journalists and local news advocates to exchange initial ideas and explore innovative ways to improve our local and regional news ecosystems.
Photos: ©Doc Searls
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. View Topline Survey Report.
In 2023, the Community Foundation awarded an Impact Grant to two nonprofit news organizations, WFHB Community Radio and Limestone Post, to collaborate on and combine coverage of community issues, including housing, health, and the environment. With match funding from the Knight Foundation, the Deep Dive series was extended for a second year. Learn more>>.
Looking for local news publishers that serve Monroe County?
Check out our Find Your Local News page for a list of local news sources.