Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Announces $2.47 Million in Awards

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation (EEJF) announced today the distribution of $2.47 million in grants to 21 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.

“We are excited to partner with Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism for the News Innovation Initiative” said Bob Ross, President and CEO of Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.  “This grant will allow them to continue providing a world class journalism education utilizing the hospital model approach, and also form a stronger partnership with University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism under interim dean Ed Kelley.”

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

Investigative Reporting

• $125,000 to Institute for Nonprofit News for general support and for regional education programs targeting best business practices and best use of innovative digital tools.
• $100,000 to Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting for further development of its data analysis service and to increase multimedia storytelling for earned revenue opportunities.
• $100,000 to Center for Investigative Reporting for Reveal, public radio’s first show and podcast dedicated to investigative storytelling, showcasing investigations from CIR and newsrooms nationwide.
• $100,000 to Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting to expand coverage of agribusiness through data apps and tools, visualizations, and audio/video content.
• $100,000 to NJSpotlight to support a Director of Business Development and to launch new projects that will generate a sustainable revenue stream.
• $75,000 to Connecticut Health I-Team to initiate podcasts, expand use of data specialist, and to pursue in-depth projects with a strong multi-media, social media and live event component.
• $50,000 to Better Government Association for investigative reporting and to help with the first year cost of new donor management software.
• $50,000 to Boston University for New England Center for Investigative Reporting to build audience through new forms of presentation by hiring freelance digital specialists in animation, video and interactive design.
• $50,000 to Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting to report the actions of government officials and provide citizens with the information they need to hold government accountable.
• $50,000 to Texas Tribune for a reporter to produce stories and investigative packages based on reporting by the Texas Tribune for the public radio show Reveal.

Professional Development

• $85,000 to Carole Kneeland Project for conference workshops, online videos, bootcamps, webinars and one-on-one coaching focused on improving news directors’ leadership, ethics and journalism.
• $35,000 to Institute for Justice and Journalism in general support of efforts to strengthen journalism about justice issues by providing trainings, funding story projects and developing digital tools.
• $20,000 to American Society of Newspaper Editors Foundation for open-government seminars, data journalism conferences and a hotline providing free legal advice. 

Oklahoma Journalism

• $66,500 to University of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Scholastic Media Initiative, providing grants to high schools starting or improving online newspapers.
• $50,430 to Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation for college journalism students working summer internships at community newspapers.

Special Opportunities

• $950,000 to Arizona State University for the News Innovation Initiative, a high-profile national test bed for digital news experimentation; and for salary and housing expenses for Visiting Professor in Journalism Ethics.
• $150,000 to WETA for Washington Week Election Initiative, a series of audience participation road shows across America and an interactive initiative to give voice to voters as the 2016 election approaches.
• $134,000 to National Press Club Journalism Institute for The Kalb Report, a series of forums on leadership in journalism and lessons learned in the digital age.
• $85,000 to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press for a legal fellowship focused on assisting journalists with issues involving libel, privacy and confidential sources.
• $50,000 to National Freedom of Information Coalition to increase network of linked coalition member websites, incorporate FOI filing web tool and contact database into online network, and expand FOI training to government record custodians.
• $40,000 to Homeless Alliance for The Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma’s first and only street newspaper.To learn more about projects funded by Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation visit http://inasmuchfoundation.org/category/eejf/ or call 405-604-5388.