Local journalism is the heartbeat of a healthy community

This isn’t just about the demise of local papers; it’s about the erosion of the foundation of a healthy democracy – accountability, shared narratives, and a platform for diverse voices.

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund was established in 2022 to support local and regional journalism and media and build the pipeline of talent for the sector. Chaired by Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds (IECF immediate-past chair and publisher of Black Voice News), the Hub+Fund fosters connections that bring local journalists, often siloed and resource-strapped, into partnership. By sharing expertise, pooling resources, and leveraging the power of collaboration, they can uncover truths, illuminate solutions, and empower communities.

On June 3, 2024, over 200 community members and journalists turned out to support the public launch of the IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund, graciously hosted by the Redlands Forum at Esri. Guests were inspired by Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds’ conversation with Dean Baquet, former executive editor of The New York Times, followed by a Q&A session with many thoughtful questions posed by attendees. The enthusiastic turnout tells us people are hungry for strong local journalism – and they’re ready to be a part of the solution to bring it back. (Watch the recording here.)

We’re incredibly grateful to our initial supporters who recognize the critical role local journalism plays and who have donated generously. We invite you to join our efforts as we rewrite the story for local journalism and help ensure a thriving, informed future for the Inland Empire. Every donation, big or small, fuels this mission – rebuilding local news, line by line, story by story.

Visit this link to donate securely. With your help, we’ll create a region where every resident has access to reliable and locally relevant news and information, empowering them to make informed decisions and engage in their communities.

Press Forward Affiliation

The Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund is proud to have been designated as an affiliate of Press Forward. Press Forward is a groundbreaking national movement dedicated to revitalizing local journalism across the United States. With over half a billion dollars committed over five years, Press Forward is supporting innovative projects, bolstering investigative reporting, and ensuring historically underrepresented voices are heard.

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund, powered by IECF, is part of a network of chapters across the country where funders bring new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news. These chapters are an opportunity for funders to create place-based initiatives, driven by the specific information needs of their communities.

Local chapters are critical to the success of Press Forward because they are closest to the ground and can identify authentically with local approaches that meet the needs of their communities. They are also uniquely positioned to rally people and organizations around a shared vision for supporting local news. National funders can help catalyze those investments, share lessons across geographies, and scale ideas.

The challenge of rebuilding America’s local news landscape is vast and will depend on creating new local efforts alongside new investment by local and national funders, smart public policies, and a variety of other revenue approaches.

The Hub recognizes the importance of accurate, timely, and impactful journalism in fostering a well-informed community and promoting positive change. Its mission is to empower the voices of the Inland Empire by providing a platform for authentic and diverse storytelling, fostering a culture of journalistic excellence, and driving positive social impact.

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The post The IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund meets enthusiastic response at Redlands Forum launch appeared first on IECF.

Local journalism is the heartbeat of a healthy community

Strong collaborative journalism is at risk in the IE. As traditional newsrooms face business challenges, competition, and misinformation, the need to innovate is more pressing than ever. That’s where the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund comes in. This exciting initiative, housed at the Inland Empire Community Foundation, is proud to announce its designation as an affiliate of Press Forward!

Press Forward is a groundbreaking national movement dedicated to revitalizing local journalism across the United States. With over half a billion dollars committed over five years, Press Forward is supporting innovative projects, bolstering investigative reporting, and ensuring historically underrepresented voices are heard.

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund at IECF is part of a network of chapters across the country where funders bring new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news. These chapters are an opportunity for funders to create place-based initiatives, driven by the specific information needs of their communities.

Local chapters are critical to the success of Press Forward because they are closest to the ground and can identify authentically local approaches that meet the needs of their communities. They are uniquely positioned to rally people and organizations around a shared vision for supporting local news. National funders can help catalyze those investments, share lessons across geographies, and scale ideas.

The challenge of rebuilding America’s local news landscape is vast and will depend on creating new local efforts alongside new investment by local and national funders, smart public policies, and a variety of other revenue approaches.

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF is a network of locally owned media organizations, independent journalists, and media professionals dedicated to telling local stories for social impact and improving access to information in the Inland Empire.

The Hub recognizes the importance of accurate, timely, and impactful journalism in fostering a well-informed community and promoting positive change. Its mission is to empower the voices of the Inland Empire by providing a platform for authentic and diverse storytelling, fostering a culture of journalistic excellence, and driving positive social impact.

Join us to learn more about the Press Forward Local’s role in building a stronger future for local journalism in the IE! The Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund’s inaugural event will be held on June 3, 2024 at the Redlands Forum. Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, who leads the Fund and the Press Forward Local Chapter, will engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dean Baquet, former Executive Editor of The New York Times. They’ll explore media’s vital role in democracy and local community-engaged journalism in engaging strategies to strengthen our civic muscle in the Inland Empire.

Register today.

The post Press Forward IE – the future of collaborative journalism in our region appeared first on IECF.

The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country and is home to more than 4.5 million residents. The region is projected to rise to a population beyond 7 million by 2050 with tremendous cultural and racial diversity. With this rapid growth, IECF believes that the Inland Empire needs to invest in solutions to historic issues to become a region of choice and opportunity for all residents. However, public and private investment lags significantly behind other regions and the state.

Research by the Foundation Center shows that San Bernardino and Riverside Counties receive about $31 per capita in philanthropic investments, just a fraction of the $139, $272, and $745 in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Bay Area, respectively.

Deepening its commitment to growing resources and influencing change that addresses inequities that contribute to some of the challenges facing the region, IECF’s Board of Directors began exploring policy advocacy as a new approach for the foundation in 2018.

The annual policy forum followed soon after establishing the IECF policy and advocacy arm. In 2020, IECF identified five policy priority areas based on conversations with nonprofit partners. Focusing on these priorities areas of education equity, climate and the environment, inclusive economic development, housing and health, the 2023 policy forum featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, breakout sessions focused on each of the priority areas, working sessions and opportunities to network socially.

“Strengths exist in the region that can be leveraged to address barriers to a vibrant, prosperous, and shared future as we use this moment to create a lasting tangible difference for people in the Inland Empire region,” Michelle Decker, President and CEO of IECF said. “We hope the community will continue to join with us in collaboration and partnership to advance our vision of a vibrant, generous and just region with unlimited opportunities.”

On Wednesday, the opening plenary with the Inland Empire Legislative Caucus was moderated by Jacob Mejia of Pechanga Development Corp and featured a discussion with Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Assemblymember James Ramos, and Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. Answering Mejia’s opening questions of, “What are the most pressing issues that the legislature should address to support the growth and prosperity of the Inland Empire? And what are your priorities in this legislative session?,” the panelists cited population growth (Cervantes); homelessness (Ramos); mental health (Jackson); and infrastructure (Ochoa Bogh).

An afternoon philanthropy panel discussion was moderated by Bansree Parikh of Bank of America and featured Elena Chávez Quezada from the California Governor’s Office, Max Espinoza from the Gates Foundation, Randall Lewis from Lewis Group of Companies and Jesse Melgar from the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab.

Michelle Decker moderated the closing plenary session with local elected officials Curt Hagman, San Bernardino County Supervisor; Patricia Lock Dawson, Mayor, City of Riverside; Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, Trustee, San Bernardino County Board of Education; Armando Carmona, Councilmember, City of Jurupa Valley and Denise Davis, Councilmember, City of Redlands.

On Thursday, the forum opened with a keynote presentation by Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer from the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Fryday spoke about Belonging and Civic Engagement. “The desire to belong is a basic human need,” he said, “and we must find more ways for everyone to contribute and co-create together.”

Attendees also participated in group sessions where they could dive deeper into conversations about priority focus areas and topics including Advocacy and Power Building; Funding & Philanthropy; Media and Journalism; and Data and Research. Facilitated by local leaders, the small-group sessions inspired ideas, networking and roadmaps for impactful work in the year ahead.

Tickets to the event were made affordable to attendees through sponsors including presenting sponsor Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and title sponsor The James Irvine Foundation. Additional sponsors included Harbor Freight, IEHP, Kaiser Permanente, Lewis Group of Companies, Pechanga Development Corporation, Edison International, Western Wind Foundation, Wingate Foundation, Amazon, IEGO, Partners for Better Health and Varner & Brandt.

Enjoy more photos of the event here.

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The post Growing Resources and Influencing Change: IECF’s 3rd Annual Policy Forum appeared first on IECF.