News Media Holds Out Its Tin Cup

Traditional journalism is on the rocks. Some newspapers are offering buy-outs to all veteran staff people. Others are completely folding up like deck chairs in November. Some say this is a “crisis in journalism.” In a democratic system that relies on the free press to hold those in power to account, this is what is known as Not Good.

Something must be done! The question is: what?

Well, as when faced with other social problems, the charitable sector is riding to the rescue. A report from the Center on Communication Leadership and Policy at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication finds that foundations are doing more and more to shore up the faltering news media industry. Foundations are supporting specific niche publications and community news sites, as well as funding efforts to come up with new business models for journalism.

It seems unlikely that the news industry could permanently rely on charitable dollars, but the report states that partnerships with foundations might be the most viable option until some other model emerges. Even though foundations aren’t necessarily interested in offering the major, long-term support news organizations need, “foundation-funded journalism is likely to keep growing. Why? Because the reporting resources of mainstream news organizations are likely to continue receding.”