Coachella Valley journalist

“With the grant, I’m excited to specifically focus on housing and ways that the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin are addressing the housing crisis that we face,” Daniels said. “There’s a lack of affordable housing for families for single people, for the elderly, for people struggling with mental health and addiction.”

“I think we all see the difficult reality of what it means to be unhoused,” she added. “We’ve all seen the tents on the side of the road, and I don’t think that’s a community anyone wants to live in. It’s heartbreaking for the people who are experiencing that. I’m hoping to write some solution-journalism stories that look at what local governments, developers, and communities are doing to help address the affordable housing crisis.”

Several years ago, Daniels launched her column, Civic Solutions, a solutions-journalism-focused column, which takes a deep dive into issues, looking at them from a solutions lens. Investigating what organizations and people are doing to target those issues head-on is key. 

“I then work backward to say, ‘OK, what worked here, what didn’t?” Daniels said. “Some of the different things that I’ve 

looked at for civic solutions, including hunger, specifically child hunger, the free lunch program that California started, and how that’s been successful in local schools.”

Daniels also looked at issues surrounding voting access.

“During the November elections, I talked to some folks who were doing a lot to get the word out about people who were felons released from prison so that they could start voting again, and a lot of them didn’t know that they could. It was a democracy participation story.”

The IECF grant comes at a pivotal time in history when rampant disinformation and loss of local journalism outlets continues to draw major concerns. According to “The Community Foundation Local Media Guidebook,” researcher Dr. Penny Abernathy, a former professor at UNC, noted at least 85 local newsrooms in the U.S. have closed since the pandemic. Others have barely remained in operation, cutting staff, salaries, and work hours. 

Additionally, about 1,800 newspapers have closed around the country since 2004.

To that end, Daniels has emerged as one of several if not rare agents of change in local media.

“I do it kind of for the love of the game,” she said. “It’s not my full-time job—I’m also a journalist for my full-time job, but not on local news.”

Her affinity for local news investigation is strong.

“We already have a lot of news stories and headlines with people identifying what’s wrong and there’s certainly a need for that, but I think the news landscape is really cluttered right now and people don’t know where to get news,” Daniels added. “I think there’s a lot of people who are sidelined by misinformation. There’s a lot of people who are more likely to get their news from a Facebook group than a legacy media outlet.”

That was one of the reasons Daniels started thinking about the kind of stories she really wanted to write, and she discovered that they revolved around her own community and the desert.

“I didn’t want to write stories that are only looking at problems,” she said. “I would rather look at ways that we’re trying to solve those problems to see what other people could learn from them.”

Meanwhile, the journalist remains busy with a focus on housing.

“I think there’s going to be some stories looking at competing interests,” she said. “The interests of developers versus interests of residents who are long-time members of the community. That’s a story we see all over the valley in different ways—people who want more housing built, people who don’t want more housing built, people who only want certain kinds of housing built, people who need other kinds of housing built.” 

“I want to look at those conversations as they’re happening and say, “OK, what’s not being done for the people who are in this community already?” she added. “What is it that they need and how do we reach that?”

Learn more at melissamdaniels.com.

This article originally appeared in the Desert Sun, April 2025.

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  From the communities of Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage to Thousand Palms and Thermal, El Informador Del Valle has long been making an impact. But a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation through the Desert Community News Fund is providing the Spanish-language newspaper more opportunities to expand.

“We’re going to strengthen our local and regional media ecosystem in the community,” said Héctor Félix Jr. of the funding. “We want to provide even more news and information to all the rural areas in the Riverside County, especially on the east side where the county ends or begins.

Félix’s father, Héctor Félix, Sr., founded the publication in 1988. Over time, it morphed into a significant go-to known for its investigative journalism. In its heyday, Héctor Félix, Sr. was recognized for his critical reporting chops, particularly on various drug cartels.

“I’ve been collaborating and helping out the family-owned business since I was a little boy,” Félix said. “Some of my most vivid memories were being in our own print shop. We had our employees actually print our weekly newspaper. 

“We used to have to use a typewriter to type up all the articles,” he added.

Don’t forget photos. At the time, long before today’s modern tech advances, photos were developed in a darkroom.

“We had to cut and paste pretty much everything back then,” Félix added. “The big old newspapers then were pretty much templates, and we had the big desk with the light underneath so we could look at all the newspaper graphics. So, this newspaper formed a lot of my memories as a kid. This is what makes me happy—providing newspapers to the community.”

The publication’s reach is still vast with news reporting stretching well into Coachella and Mecca. To that end, it remains one of those rarities in these modern times—a locally owned newspaper with strong ties to its community and a deep  devotion to sharing news and information to its readers.

Without corporate pressures, which typically come with a bottom-line price tag, Félix is ever optimistic about the road ahead heading into 2025 and beyond. One look at the publication’s website is proof of that as there’s a significant portal to list community events and even entertainment news and notices.

Chances are that residents as east as Salton Sea have picked up the newspaper, too, as it is among the long list of distribution points.

Overall, El Informador Del Valle continues to build on the strong foundation of its creator and Félix, its first-generation leader now, hopes to steer it successfully to new heights.

“I want people to know that we’re still actively providing local news, information, topics, and sports,” Félix said. “And that it’s a free publication you can find in all the Hispanic or Latino stores. We’re very much looking to the future now.”

Learn more at elinformadordelvalle.com.

This article originally appeared in the Desert Sun, January 2024.

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Artwork courtesy of the LA Times/De Los

This story summarizes a recent piece by Fidel Martinez in the L.A. Times’ De Los, which highlighted the growing cultural influence of the Inland Empire and the need for more dedicated media coverage in the region. 

The CIELO Fund at IECF is thrilled to partner with De Los, the L.A. Times’ Latino-focused vertical, to expand coverage of the Inland Empire’s Latino community. This partnership marks an important step toward ensuring that the voices, challenges, and successes of Latinos in the IE are heard—told by journalists with deep roots in the region.

Why This Partnership Matters

The Inland Empire is one of the largest Latino communities in the U.S. According to Pew Research, Riverside and San Bernardino counties rank as the sixth- and eighth-largest Latino counties in the country, with more Latinos living here than in Orange and San Diego counties combined. And yet, as local journalism continues to decline, media coverage of this vibrant region remains limited.

As noted in Martinez’s article, while the region has long been a creative powerhouse, its stories often go underreported. Our partnership with De Los directly responds to this need, helping to bring greater visibility to Latino voices, issues, and achievements in the IE.

De Los, launched in 2023 by the Los Angeles Times, covers Latino stories across Southern California and beyond. This new partnership will ensure more dedicated reporting on the Inland Empire—stories about the people, culture, history, and pressing issues that shape our communities.

Meet the Journalist Leading the Effort

At the heart of this collaboration is Paloma Esquivel, a veteran journalist with 17 years at the L.A. Times. A native of the Inland Empire, she has covered immigration, education, housing, and—most importantly—the IE itself. Esquivel’s leadership ensures that this coverage will be authentic, nuanced, and reflective of the community—not “parachute journalism” from outsiders, but real stories told by people who understand the IE firsthand.

What to Expect

With this partnership, expect deeper, more comprehensive reporting on the Inland Empire’s Latino communities, businesses, artists, educators, and leaders. Whether it’s exploring the region’s evolving cultural identity, highlighting local changemakers, or uncovering the stories that often go unheard, this collaboration will help paint a fuller picture of what it means to be Latino in the IE.

Get Involved

This initiative is about community-driven storytelling, and your input matters! If you have a story idea or a perspective that deserves a spotlight, reach out to the De Los team at LatinxFiles@latimes.com, or DeLos@latimes.com.

At IECF, we believe that local representation in media matters, and we’re proud that the CIELO Fund can play a role in uplifting Inland Empire voices. Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to follow De Los and IECF as we continue to support the stories that shape our region.

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Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds speaks at the Fund’s launch in 2024

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF recently awarded $220,000 to 12 local news outlets and independent media makers in its inaugural grantmaking round! This initial investment highlights IECF’s commitment to revitalizing local news and ensuring our communities have access to equitable and impactful journalism.

“In a time when trusted journalism is more important than ever, these grants empower journalists to tell stories that matter most to Inland Empire residents,” said Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, Founder of the IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF. “We are proud to support these talented individuals and organizations in their efforts to inform, engage, and inspire our communities.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide range of projects and focus areas, from investigative reporting and community storytelling to multimedia content creation. The news organizations receiving funding to support their work are included below:

• Community Forward Redlands
• Black Voice News
• Inland Valley News
• El Informador Del Valle
• Raincross Gazette
• The Frontline Observer
• KVCR
• IE Community News
• OTWay Media (Media Literacy)
• Melissa Daniels (Freelance)
• 1LoveIE (Digital Media)
• I.E. in Friends (Digital Media)

Inland Empire Community News team during a recent podcast

In addition to grant funding support, the 12 local news organizations also participate in a peer learning community to foster collaboration and share best practices to strengthen the journalism community’s capacity to operate more effectively.

Armando Carmona speaks to local journalists

“From the start, we are paving the way for transformative regional journalism by empowering diverse voices, fostering innovation, and strengthening local coverage to create a more inclusive and informed Inland Empire,” said Armando Carmona, Project Director at the Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund at IECF.

The Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund was established to support innovative and community-centered reporting in the Inland Empire region. By investing in local newsrooms, independent journalists, and storytelling initiatives, IECF aims to amplify the voices of our diverse communities and address critical issues that affect our region.

The Inland Empire faces significant challenges, including limited resources for local journalism, fragmented communities, and the need for equitable access to information, especially for underrepresented groups such as immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations. The work of the Hub + Fund has proven essential in fostering collaboration, building trust, and empowering local media to address these challenges head-on.

The Hub + Fund is powered by generous donations and support from the James Irvine Foundation, Press Forward, Democracy Fund, the Inland Empire Community Foundation and the Google News Initiative as well as local individual donors who share our vision for a thriving local journalism ecosystem.

To learn more about this work, and how you can support local journalism in the Inland Empire, please visit the IE Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund Annual Review Report or https://iejournalism.fund.

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“What we do is raise money to help support local journalists and local journalism organizations,” said Randy Lovely, Board President of Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation (CVJF). “We do that in a number of ways, through staff positions, interns, or providing one-time grants to help offset the cost of a reporting project, or travel and such.”

The grant CVJF received was a directed grant, which is not distributed to general operations. Instead, it funnels into fundraising efforts that support the Desert Sun’s philanthropy editor position.

“The position is, in essence, funded by the community, just as Desert Sun’s opinion page editor,” Lovely said. “Those two positions are grant-supported positions. We have paid for, now going into the fifth year, the editorial page position. The new grant goes toward the philanthropy and giving editor position.”

It’s a big boost for journalism during a time of unprecedented change in the media industry.

“Obviously, that kind of coverage is incredibly important in terms of what it does to help raise the profile of the various non-profits throughout the Valley that are trying to provide incredible services to the community,” Lovely added. “By having that position and having that content in the Desert Sun and its website, it really helps these organizations achieve their goals.”

It’s a valiant effort on the part of CVJF, whose primary mission is to, “promote and support sustainable community journalism in the Coachella Valley.” A major goal is to celebrate and perhaps elevate local journalism, thereby recognizing the work of Valley journalists.

The organization itself is quick to promote a vibrant ideal, something Walter Cronkite once said: “Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.”

That continues to be a challenge for many media organizations in the 2020s. Traditional business models of local news outlets—from newspapers and television broadcasters to radio stations—have been greatly impacted by high-tech and economic slumps. Corporate interests continue to affect many outlets, sometimes stripping away needed resources, such as salaried positions. 

To that end, CVJF strives to improve and expand the work of local news organizations, which aim to remain in service to the community.

“Coachella Valley has an incredible history of philanthropic giving, and I would say probably per capita, we probably have more dollars raised philanthropically than most communities do,” Lovely said. “It’s a very generous community, but there’s also a lot of organizations who are vying for that attention and vying for those dollars, and so the philanthropy section helps shine the spotlight on those worthy organizations that are doing such incredible things across the Valley.”

On the horizon, Lovely points out several events that stand out. CVJF’s major fundraising event is on January 14.  Lovely calls it, “Our Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame event.” In its second year now, tickets are on sale through the end of December.

Roughly five major events are planned throughout the year, in fact, which Lovely says, “helps connect local journalists with the community.”

These range from author events to exhibits.

“We’re planning a photo exhibit of news photography later this spring,” Lovely said. “We try to help the community understand the important work that journalists do and give them an opportunity to meet some of the local journalists. We also launched a membership program, and so that’s a big push for us as an organization is to get people to sign on as members.”

“It shows the grassroots support that’s really important for us as we go out and seek other grants,” he added.

Learn more at cvjf.org.

This article originally appeared in the Desert Sun, January 2025

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Strengthening Collaborative Inland Empire Journalism: A $175K Boost from Press Forward

The IE Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund (IEJIHF) at IECF has been awarded a $175,000 grant from Press Forward to support local and regional journalism and build the pipeline of talent for the sector. The Fund is a cooperative model established in 2022 to bridge the gaps in the region’s news coverage through collaborative media partnerships, thereby strengthening communities and democracy.

An Innovative Approach to Local News

The Inland Empire has long suffered from limited media coverage and a lack of institutional accountability­­­­­–challenges the Hub+Fund seeks to address. This collaborative model will foster partnerships among local media organizations, independent journalists, and citizen journalists. By pooling resources and sharing expertise, it aims to enhance the depth and breadth of reporting on key local issues. One of the Hub+Fund’s primary goals is to serve underrepresented audiences and address information gaps. Historically, communities of color in the Inland Empire have suffered from narratives that criminalize them and exclude important stories that reflect their realities. The Hub+Fund aims to change this narrative by bringing in media professionals who reflect the communities they cover and by ensuring that these communities have a sense of ownership and accessibility.

Building a Sustainable Funding Model

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the Hub+Fund, the IECF will use the Press Forward grant to hire a dedicated development professional to focus on donor engagement, institutional relationship building, and identifying strategic partnership opportunities. By securing additional funding from regional donors and larger grants, the Hub+Fund can continue to expand its initiatives and support local journalism. Show your support for local journalism by donating today!

More Press Forward Grants

Two local media outlets are part of the 18 California newsrooms and 205 nationwide newsrooms receiving a share of $20 million from Press Forward to address coverage gaps in their communities.

The grants, totaling $100,000 each over two years, will support these media outlets in their efforts to provide reliable and community-focused news coverage. Black Voice News, a Black-owned newsroom operating since 1972, will use the funds to support community engagement to bolster reporting and increase editorial impact. The Riverside Record, a community-focused nonprofit digital newsroom, will use the funding to support its goal of providing high-quality, local content that inspires people to become involved in their communities.

This local funding from Press Forward and its support of the Inland Empire Journalism Innovation Hub + Fund are essential for maintaining a sustainable and reliable news landscape in the region. By strengthening local news, we can ensure that our communities have access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

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The Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs was recently featured in the Desert Scene.

Kate Franco, Executive editor of The Desert Sun, shared the following update on the Desert Scene and Giving section, saying, “Because of the generosity of organizations like the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and that of other nonprofits, businesses and individuals, we were able to raise enough money to bring back our beloved Giving/Scene section. The return of Giving/Scene has been so well-received in the valley, with many offering testaments to how crucial this content is in advancing the causes of the many nonprofits and philanthropies across the Coachella Valley.”

A little over a year ago, The Desert Sun put out a call to the community asking for help in bringing back the newspaper’s weekly Desert Scene and Giving section, which had a long and storied history of providing essential coverage of our local philanthropies and nonprofit organizations across the desert.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds, Bank of America Foundation and the CIELO Fund – along with many caring individuals – answered that call, recognizing how important this coverage is to our community, and proving once again that the philanthropic tradition is alive and thriving in the Coachella Valley.

We knew that in order for the nonprofit organizations to continue to thrive, it was essential that we resume our on-the-ground reporting of the important work they do, get the word out about upcoming activities and events and publicize fundraising events through our calendar. Many of these organizations have little to no communications budget, and without Desert Scene and Giving, they have little hope of reaching the broader community.

Thanks to you, we made it happen. And the response from the community has been both overwhelming and affirming.

Together, we have helped people get involved …

“We are so happy for the coverage you have given us and hope this helps us in our mission. We’ve already received three inquiries from people who want to get involved with us. … We really appreciate your support and look forward to more interactions in the future.” — Ray Biller, Cake4Kids

“… Thank you so much for your support! We have had many inquiries from our listings in the Desert Sun, so it’s working!” — Priscilla Kubas, Alzheimers Coachella Valley

Together, we have helped mobilize the community …

“Thank you so much for placing Anita’s article about Desert Hort’s Garden Tour in such a prominent location. We hadn’t had a tour since 2019, so I was hoping for about 500 to show up. Instead, we had 798! It was successful beyond my highest hopes. It helped to replenish our scholarship fund for our newest student and put us back on the map! Without your vital work and participation in the community, we would all be the poorer. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” — Kai Kushen, Desert Horticultural Society

“Thank you for the beautiful article on The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival.  The article was informative and I’ve gotten so many positive responses since it was online and printed. There was a tremendous boost in ticket reservations the day it came out, and I have continued to increase my sales since the article.  It really made a huge difference for me.  Again, thank you for supporting us and sharing with your readers. I really appreciate it. With thanks” —David Youse

Together, we have helped raise awareness …

“… I felt it was important to send you an email about the coverage The Desert Sun has been providing our charity for the last several years. This is also an opportunity to say THANK YOU to the newspaper and you. … The coverage you’ve provided has shone a bright light on Angel Light Academy and we’ve seen a difference in the awareness of our charity, support with volunteers and financial support. This matters greatly to us! We are a 100% volunteer organization that relies solely on donations. We just celebrated 25 years and are thriving and growing!” — Michelle McLaughlin, Angel Light Academy

Together, we have uplifted organizations from Desert Hot Springs to Thermal and beyond …

“It has been awesome to work with you. … A collaboration like we have had has been a true treasure. The power your Sunday section has on this valley is exceptional.” — Theresa Maggio, formerly with National Philanthropy Day

Returning Desert Sun Philanthropy Editor Winston Gieseke recently offered some reflections on the community:

Margaret Mead famously said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

I think that’s nowhere truer than here in our wonderful Coachella Valley. It’s no secret that there are a lot of incredibly generous people living here. People who mobilize to make change, who selflessly give of their time, their resources, their expertise and their love in order to help others. And it’s something I think this community is rightfully very proud of.

That’s where The Desert Sun’s Desert Scene and Giving sections come in. What started out as a society column that reported on the comings and goings of the local elite has evolved into a section about the generous spirit of all our locals. There remain plenty of high-profile, glamorous events, but here in the valley they’re often fundraisers for a nonprofit, raising much-needed funds for cancer research or providing safe places for kids to go after school. It’s no longer about who went where or who wore what. It’s about who gave and who benefited. Society for a purpose.

While there remains much divisiveness in our world, I think we can all agree on the importance of giving back and the positive ripple effect that comes from celebrating it. And I feel honored to be the one bringing the celebration to you via Desert Scene and Giving.

Brie Griset Smith, CSPG, Chief Development Officer for IECF said, “I was touched to receive this heartwarming update from Kate Franco. We’re delighted to see the impact of our fundraising and support, through which we’ve been able to elevate and uplift our dedicated nonprofits and their inspiring stories.”

The CIELO Fund at IECF recently renewed their grant to the Desert Community News Fund. The award will underwrite the writing and publication of stories about Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations in the Coachella Valley. We invite you to contribute to the continued publication of noteworthy community journalism by donating any amount to the Fund – either one time or on a recurring basis.

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Perhaps both musings are something to ruminate on in here in 2024 as media and politics continue to shape-shift. For Inland Empire Community News (IECN), adapting to the changing media landscapes is one part of a rich and vivid history anchored by a deep commitment to reporting news.

Several publications lie under the IECN umbrella— El Chicano, Colton Courier, and Rialto Record, serving the cities of San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto, Loma Linda, Redlands, and Highland.

The publications initially got started in the late 1960s, thanks to the determination of Gloria Macias Harrison, who co-founded IECN and El Chicano Weekly. The latter is now considered one of the longest-running minority-owned independent newspapers in the nation.

Harrison stepped down over the past year, but still maintains a vital role as an advisor. The publication is currently owned by Manny Sandoval and Denise Verber, who have been with the organization for 27 years.

Recently, IECN received a CIELO Fund grant through Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF). Sandoval says the grant will help the organization elevate its digital footprint. In addition to its digital newsletter, the IECN also creates PDF versions of the paper. But there’s an even broader goal.

“The fund will help us elevate our capability to cater towards the younger audience,” says Sandoval, IECN’s co-owner and publisher. “Historically, our print readers are older, over the age of 55 or so. But on social media, the bulk of our followers are between the ages of 24 and 54 years old. It’s a different demographic. That’s who we’re really targeting.”

Beyond the digital expansion, Sandoval has his sights set on multifunctional content. The publication recently shot and produced its first podcast, which includes both audio and video. Audiences can experience that on YouTube and IECN’s social media channels.

Sandoval got his start in PR in radio. He’d also been a freelance writer for IECN since the age of 19. He started becoming more involved in the inner workings of IECN several years ago, eventually coming on board as IECN’s editor, a move that eventually found him also becoming co-owner.

The new podcast is significant on several levels.

“I graduated from San Bernardino Valley College, which has a state-of-the-art podcast in the studio called the Institute of Media Arts,” Sandoval says. “What’s really cool about what we’re doing now is that it’s really a full circle moment. The film department there shares a wall with KVCR Public Media, and this is a nice collaboration between us and the college’s film department.”

Looking ahead, Sandoval is quick to point out the ever-changing state of media and publishing but stresses the importance of collaboration between media companies.

“There’s power in collaboration,” he says. “I know a lot of times there’s certain media, and organizations that kind of refrain from spotlighting other media entities. But my message is we have to continue to kind of spotlight each other and collaborate when we move so much further quicker.

“When we do so, we amplify each other’s voices,” he adds.

Ultimately, it’s about unity.

“We’re really not ‘competition,’” Sandoval says. “As long as everybody is able to stay afloat, that’s important for the region, because without us, a lot of the news in our communities would go unheard of.”

Visit iecn.com

This story originally appeared in The Sun, June 2024.

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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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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.

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