The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recently gave $400,000 to the New England Center for Investigative Reporting to further the crucial work of journalism nonprofits, the philanthropy announced.
The Knight Foundation, named after brothers who founded and published the Knight Ridder chain of newspapers, says that the nonprofit journalism program’s goal is to create a model for the next generation of nonprofit news providers.
The New England Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit based at Boston University, says the two-year grant gives it the ability to develop a business plan for its program to have long-form investigative content produced by high school and university students published or aired by its media partners.
The center for investigative reporting was created in early 2009 at BU’s College of Communication and has helped students with investigative reporting that has been seen in the region’s most popular newspaper, the Boston Globe, as well as the Christian Science Monitor, New England Cable News, and many other publications. Articles have explored issues like federal stimulus spending, workplace safety records and colleges failing to discipline perpetrators of sexual assault.
Students work as reporters in training, guided by veteran investigative journalists from the Globe, ABC News, local television outlets and other major newspapers around the country.
NECIR director Joe Bergantino says that journalism nonprofits are needed for the survival of independent journalism, which ensures good government.
"Investigative reporting is one of democracy’s most important tools for providing citizens with the information they need to hold the powerful accountable and make informed decisions,’ says Bergantino. "Our goal is to create a national model for ensuring the long-term survival of this important type of journalism."
The foundation is also giving back to the community in Florida. It pledged $2.5 million to a north Florida organization that will redistribute the funds to financially strapped nonprofits.