Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Announces $1.9 Million in Awards

OKLAHOMA CITY – Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation (EEJF) announced today the distribution of $1.9 million in grants to 19 journalism organizations nationwide.

Founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord, Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation’s mission is to invest in the future of journalism by building the ethics, skills and opportunities needed to advance principled, probing news and information.

“EEJF is excited to form new partnerships with start-up investigative news organizations, as well as continue our long standing relationships with established groups” said Bob Ross, President and CEO of Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. “We hope our portfolio of grantees will strive to find innovative best practices for high impact journalism.”

The following grants were awarded to organizations for projects addressing the foundation’s core areas of focus:

Investigative Reporting
           

• $150,000 to Investigative News Network for general support and for Impaq.me, a new “click and share” online donor project using social media as the engager.

• $100,000 to Fund for Investigative Journalism for grants to reporters who have ideas, skills, and sources, but lack funding for travel, document collection, and other out-of-pocket expenses for reporting.

• $100,000 to I-News at Rocky Mountain PBS to produce multimedia public-service investigative journalism that leads to measurable results.

• $100,000 to InvestigateWest for general support of original investigative reporting on issues of public consequence in the Northwest.

• $100,000 to Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism for general support of IowaWatch, an online news service that produces investigative journalism, engages in collaborative reporting efforts and educates college journalism students in the state.

• $100,000 to The Lens for general support of watchdog journalism focused on schools, the environment, criminal justice, government and politics, and land use.

• $100,000 to Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism for general support of investigative journalism in the public interest while training the next generation of investigative journalists.

• $85,000 to TucsonSentinel.com to produce multimedia journalism on the U.S.-Mexico border, including examinations of border enforcement and immigration impacts.

• $75,000 to Centro de Periodismo Investigativo to produce high impact investigative journalism stories in Puerto Rico and to train Spanish speaking journalists and journalism students in practical investigative skills.

• $75,000 to FairWarning for general support of online investigative news focused on public health, safety and environmental issues, and related topics of government and business accountability.

• $75,000 to PublicSource for general support of high-impact journalism in Pennsylvania focusing on energy and the environment, transportation and infrastructure, social justice issues and political accountability.

• $50,000 to Carolina Public Press to provide public interest reporting for the 18 counties of the rural Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

• $25,000 to MarylandReporter.com to support investigative efforts to document how taxpayers dollars are raised and spent in Maryland.

Professional Development

• $100,000 to Investigative Reporters and Editors for Better Watchdog Workshops, arming journalists with tools to hold government and business accountable, providing strategies for working quickly, digging deeper, and increasing impact.

• $25,000 to Associated Press Media Editors Associated Foundation for NewsTrain, a national touring workshop that provides training in the skills, knowledge and information needed in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.

• $25,000 to Society for News Design Foundation for workshops in iPad and app development strategies for professional journalists, students and professors to be held at universities and news organizations across the country.

Youth Education

• $90,000 to University of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Scholastic Media Initiative, providing grants for equipment, software and training to high schools starting or improving online newspapers.

• $39,000 to University of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism, providing opportunities for historically underrepresented populations of high school students interested in journalism.

Special Opportunities

• $432,890 to Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation for the Breaking News & Reporting Terrorism Exhibit, allowing visitors to learn about the experiences of journalists who covered the bombing and the role of the media as the conduit between the event and the waiting public.

• $50,000 to University of Missouri for the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s web development project for state affiliates, training modules for journalists, and annual FOI summit.

To learn more about Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, visit www.journalismfoundation.org or call 405-604-5388.