The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation has awarded a grant of $125,000 to the Investigative News Network (INN). The generous grant is the third from the foundation, and will help INN increase editorial collaborations, share resources, provide training and develop revenue-generating programs for the Network's nonprofit journalism members.
The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation was founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord, its mission to invest in the future of journalism by building the ethics, skills and opportunities needed to advance principled and probing news and analysis.
"This grant comes to us at a great time," said Kevin Davis, INN CEO and Executive Director. "The generosity of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation will assist the Network in expanding collaborations we've been working on, as well as help us with providing training and resources to our members."
This is the third year INN has received a grant from the Oklahoma City-based EEJF. Previous grants from the foundation helped INN with start-up costs, and assisted in developing editorial and business collaborations among the member organizations.
INN is a consortium of over 60 non-partisan, nonprofit news organizations conducting investigative journalism is the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. INN is dedicated to helping member organizations become sustainable businesses that produce and distribute high-impact stories.
Nine of INN's member organizations received grants from EEJF, including:
- $150,000 to Brandeis University for the Investigative Journalism Fellowship program, providing editorial and institutional support to independent journalists investigating government and corporate misconduct, fraud and corruption, injustice and human rights violations.
- $100,000 to Center for Investigative Reporting to expand existing collaborations, create replicable new models for collaboration, and develop new revenue opportunities to help sustain nonprofit journalism.
- $100,000 to InvestigateWest for Pacific Northwest Network, increasing the number of media partners providing investigative and public service news coverage in the region, diversifying funding sources and examining new strategies to support and expand journalism.
- $100,000 to Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network for general support of I-News, including a valuation of services by setting price points and sharing what's learned with others looking for ways to sustain in-depth journalism in their communities.
- $100,000 to Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to expand leadership roles in transparency, ethics, training and high standards of accuracy and to share learning with other nonprofit investigative centers.
- $85,000 to The Lens to build capacity of reporting, board, staff, social media, fundraising and back-office operations. The Lens produces watchdog journalism to empower New Orleanians to advocate for accountable governance.
- $80,000 to FairWarning for creation of a freelance fund to increase output of investigative stories on safety and health issues, and for fundraising, marketing and sustainability research and planning.
- $75,000 to American University for Investigative Reporting Workshop for continued development of new approaches and new thinking for the creation and delivery of high-quality investigative journalism.
- $100,000 to Investigative Reporters and Editors for the Better Watchdog Workshop series, training journalists to use documents and data to hold government, business and community leaders accountable.