PART OF SPECIAL EFFORT WITH SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK, FUNDED BY THE LOR FOUNDATION AND OTHER FUNDERS IN NEW MEXICO, MONTANA, IDAHO AND WYOMING
March 22, 2019 — Report for America announced today that seven news organizations would be hosting Report for America corps members this June, as part of a special initiative with Solutions Journalism Network.
The initiative was made possible through the support of the LOR Foundation, the Kendeda Fund in Montana, and other region-based funders.
Under the unique partnership, Report for America will pay for half the salaries of talented reporters that join local newsrooms in the area. Preference will be given to programs that either have had or want to have Solutions Journalism Network training.
Solutions Journalism Network, which already has trained staff at over 50 news organizations in the Mountain West, also will provide guidance on reporting on engagement approaches, as needed, and support for solutions-focused projects.
The news organization are:
Albuquerque Journal – Coverage of environment, use of public lands, and water resources in New Mexico. Based in Albuquerque, NM.
Boise Public Radio – To dramatically improve coverage of the Eastern Region of the state, especially Magic Valley (including agribusiness issues) and Wood River Valley (land and tourism issues). Based in Eastern Region, Idaho.
Casper-Tribune – Covering the Wind River Reservation, where the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes reside. Based in Riverton, Wyoming.
Santa Fe Reporter – Covering Santa Fe’s Southside, especially “its immigrant and indigenous community, service industry workers, entrepreneurs and families.” Based in Santa Fe, NM.
Times-News – Focus on Jerome, Gooding and Lincoln counties, with a special focus on Hispanic affairs as well as basic accountability reporting of courts and city hall. Based in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Wyoming Public Media – Covering the Wind River Reservation. Based in Lander (or nearby community), Wyoming.
Yellowstone Public Radio — Agriculture, energy and environmental stories, especially in under-reported rural areas of Montana. Based in Billings, Montana.
“Through launching this work with Solutions Journalism Network in the Mountain West, we’ve seen first-hand how solutions reporting can positively impact communities and inspire real action,” said LaMonte Guillory, Chief Communications Officer for the LOR Foundation. “Aligning the work of SJN with bright and accomplished Report for America corps members will greatly impact and strengthen the overall reporting ecosystem — benefiting local news and the communities it serves.”
The Solutions Journalism Network is leading a mindset shift and practice change in journalism, building capacity for rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. In five years, over 10,000 journalists have been exposed to its curriculum. More than 180 news organizations have worked with SJN to produce reporting projects that cover society more comprehensively, revealing possibilities for civic agency and connection.
Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and regions. RFA currently has reporters in Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. In 2019, it will have 60 reporters around the country. The program, funded by both private and public donors, pays for half of each reporter’s salary and the remainder is covered by the local newsroom and local benefactors.
RFA corps members typically have an average of three years of experience, while some are accomplished recent graduates. More than half of the current corps members have returned to their home states.
Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting emerging journalists in under-covered corners of the world. GroundTruth launched Report for American in January of 2018.
Contact: Maggie Messitt, National Director | mmessitt@reportforamerica.org