The AP Fund for Journalism (APFJ) today announced its board of directors and a local newsroom pilot program in which it will work with nearly 50 nonprofit news organizations to support state and local news reporting.
Participating newsrooms include three NENPA members in New England, The Connecticut Mirror, The Maine Monitor, and VTDigger. Congratulations to these organizations on your selection!
The program marks the first such project for APFJ, the charitable organization created by The Associated Press in 2024 to support public service journalism and make it accessible to state and local news organizations in the U.S.
“Fact-based, independent journalism is the backbone of engaged communities and informed civic discourse. Local newsrooms are on the frontlines telling the stories that matter most to their audiences, yet often they lack the resources to do so effectively,” said APFJ CEO Rachel White. “This pilot program is a critical first step in our mission to close that gap, ensuring that state and local newsrooms have the tools they need to keep the public informed on stories and issues that wouldn’t otherwise receive coverage.”
Through the APFJ pilot program, which is supported by the Google News Initiative, participating newsrooms will receive a selection of AP text, video and photo content and access to editorial tools and training to further support their newsgathering work.
Learn more and see the full list of newsrooms selected at https://www.ap.org/media-center/press-releases/2025/ap-fund-for-journalism-announces-board-of-directors-1st-program-with-nearly-50-local-newsrooms/
The New England Newspaper & Press Association proudly congratulates all the winners of the 2024 Better Newspaper Competition! The awards were presented on March 29 in Portland, Maine, during a celebration of the region’s finest in journalism.
After another successful networking night in March, the monthly journalist meetup series continues in Boston this spring with three exciting events designed to help media professionals connect and collaborate in relaxed, social settings.
Four distinguished journalists were inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame during a celebratory dinner held on March 28 in Portland, Maine.
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The Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) is now accepting applications for its 2025 scholarship program, including the prestigious MacGregor Fiske Award. The program aims to support aspiring journalists from New England as they pursue careers in the field.
Join fellow New England journalists on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, for an evening of networking, conversation, and collaboration at Tiki Rock in Boston. This exciting event is open to all media professionals across the region and offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand your professional network.
Journalism Advisory Organizations Issue Rare Alert to Student News Outlets
A coalition of national student media advisory organizations has issued a rare alert to student journalists, revising long-standing guidance on journalistic practices in light of what it calls an “unprecedented” threat to the free exercise of student speech on campuses across the United States.
The alert recommends that student media organizations “revisit their policies on takedown requests and anonymous sources, particularly for those whose immigration status may make them targets for their lawful speech.” It also advises being transparent with sources and audiences about anonymous bylines and sourcing, and educating staff on these issues. The group of signatories — comprising the Associated Collegiate Press, Journalism Education Association, College Media Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill & Scroll, and the Student Press Law Center — acknowledged that the advice represents a departure from traditional journalistic norms.
“Many of our organizations have existed for a century or more, and we have never before issued this type of alert. We do not do so lightly now,” the coalition said in its alert, which was issued on April 4.
Read more at https://niemanreports.org/student-journalists-press-freedom-splc/