12 members of INN's network of independent, nonprofit investigative news sites won grants from the Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
Scott Lewis of Voice of San Diego is using the EEJF grant to connect citizens to important public policy issues. "We're working on an innovative program to help people understand the news and the policies that affect their communities through a combination of events and online efforts," says Lewis, "and we hope we can up the news literacy even on the most complex topics."
The 12 INN members who won grants include:
- Center for Investigative Reporting -- $100,000
- Connecticut Health Investigative Team -- $100,000
- Florida Center for Investigative Reporting -- $100,000
- Investigative Newsource -- $100,000
- Midwest Center for Investigative Journalism -- $100,000
- NJSpotlight -- $75,000
- New England Center for Investigative Reporting -- $75,000
- Voice of OC -- $75,000
- Voice of San Diego -- $75,000
- Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting -- $73,850
- 100Reporters -- $50,000
- Hidden City Philadelphia -- $30,000
In an announcement, Ethics & Excellence In Journalism's CEO Bob Ross said: “The awards announced today, many to non-profit impact journalism organizations, provide funding for the delivery of high quality journalism. We know the future of journalism rests in leaders willing to take an entrepreneurial approach and our grants will allow them to continue their great work.”
John Christie of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, one of the organizations awarded a grant, said, n"It's heartening that EEJF is staying with our organizations and recognizing that we're not going to be 100% independent of grant money right away. But we're performing a service in our state and doing it in a frugal way, and we're always looking for ways to do it better."
INN congratulates all its members who won grants and offers sincere thanks to EEJF for supporting the trend toward nonprofit investigative news organizations.