Press Forward Chooses WNY for First New York Chapter
National network working to strengthen local news, so communities stay informed, connected and engaged.
Strong local news does more than report facts. It connects neighbors, holds leaders accountable, and gives people the context they need to make decisions. When those connections fray, communities lose one of their most important sources of trust and shared understanding.
Press Forward, a national network working to strengthen local news for the benefit of communities they serve, has recently announced its newest chapter in Western New York, and the first in its network in New York State.
The organization has 46 chapters throughout the United States, mobilizing funders and resources to strengthen local news. To date, they have 130 funding partners and invested more than $400 million in local news nationwide.
With support from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and an initial investment from the WNY Forward Fund, the Press Forward WNY chapter will focus its initial work on assessing the local media ecosystem throughout the eight counties of Western New York to better understand strengths and gaps in local news coverage.
At a time when trust in many institutions is decreasing, most Americans still want and value local news about their communities. At the same time, local media is competing with a patchwork of online platforms that may not have the trust, depth, consistency or local connections to meet the needs of local communities. The challenge is to ensure local outlets have the resources to meet demand with the depth and consistency communities deserve.
Local news remains a rare and unifying source of credibility, as well as a place to become informed about decisions that impact communities, to keep leaders and institutions accountable and to stay connected to local happenings. According to national polls, 66% of Americans rely on local news to make everyday decisions, 93% want independent local news in their communities and 74% say they trust local media.
Press Forward WNY will receive financial support from Press Forward that will initially be used for the landscape analysis of WNY media to determine where news gaps exist, particularly in rural communities. Grant funding for media outlets and other entities supporting local news is expected once there is a better understanding of the media ecosystem and community need.
To learn more about Press Forward, visit https://www.pressforward.news.