Grants that Work: The Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub is a novel way for funders to support local news
The Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub, funded by the Benter Foundation, houses offices for a number of small hyperlocal newsrooms in Pittsburgh. Why do we like it? First, the impact: The Hub doesn’t just support the news ecosystem, it improves it by making collaborations possible that never would have happened if the newsrooms didn’t share space. And second: It’s a novel and creative approach from a funder thinking expansively about what they can offer.
Related Knowledge Center: Local media
The hollowing out of the local news ecosystem has been well documented; in some communities, efforts are underway to reverse the growing news desert.
Related Knowledge Center: State of the business model
The traditional journalism business model has long since collapsed, and news organizations have shrunk or disappeared entirely. While a number of promising experiments are under way, the public has not shown a willingness to buy what news organizations are selling.