ANNOUNCEMENTS

Facebook Journalism Project COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund for US Local Newsrooms

April 7, 2020

Applications are now closed for the FJP COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program. Grant recipients will be announced in May 2020.
Facebook is grateful to all journalists and newsrooms working under unprecedented conditions to cover coronavirus and keep the world informed. Learn more here about our $100 million investment to support the news industry during the COVID-19 health crisis; visit this page for company-wide updates.
Today the Facebook Journalism Project (FJP) is launching the FJP COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program, offering grant opportunities to help US local news organizations continue serving communities during the coronavirus outbreak. News organizations can begin applying for relief grants on Monday, April 13. Details below.
To hear more about this initiative as it evolves, please sign up for the Facebook Journalism Project newsletter.
Apply for Relief Grants
  • Applications open beginning Monday, April 13 until Friday, April 24, 2020 at 11:59PM ET
  • Grant amounts will range from $25,000-$100,000
  • Eligibility criteria detailed below
  • Watch our recent webinar about how to apply and understand the eligibility criteria here:
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Relief grants are designed to provide support for US local news organizations serving a critical role for communities impacted by COVID-19. Funding is intended to a) respond to immediate community needs and/or b) offset some revenue shortfalls to help publishers maintain long-term sustainability during this crisis.
Both for- and non-profit local news organizations will be considered for grant funding based on the criteria outlined below. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives from the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION), Local Media Association (LMA), Local Media Consortium (LMC), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), and Facebook.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for support, publishers must be:

  • US-based
  • Actively covering COVID-19
  • Serving a defined geographic area
Preference will be given to publishers who:

  • Serve immigrant, rural, underserved and economically disadvantaged communities
  • Represent areas where COVID-19 impact is particularly acute
  • Clearly and candidly explain the grant's contribution to their organization's long-term viability
  • Are family- or community-owned or independent
  • Have an established digital reader, digital listener or digital video consumer supported business model
  • Have not yet received grant support from the Facebook Journalism Project in 2020
Eligibility is irrespective of the use of Facebook tools or services.
Grant Details
Applicants may request grant amounts ranging from $25,000-$100,000. Only one grant will be made available per organization (an organization that owns several news outlets is eligible to apply for one grant across their company).
Grants could be used to:

  • Cover key organizational costs such as, but not limited to:
    • Reducing furloughs for key organizational personnel
    • Hiring part-time staff to support newsgathering or business operations
    • Support alternative print distribution methods
    • Marketing
    • Support of local small businesses through new advertising offerings
    • Purchase new technology or pay to maintain current systems
  • Create new journalism products and services related to COVID-19 such as, but not limited to:
    • A COVID-19 dedicated newsletter
    • Special fact-checking / debunking efforts
    • Local-focused data reporting
    • Online events
    • New reporting initiatives (Solutions Journalism, e.g.)
    • Freelancer support
    • Translation of COVID-19 coverage for at-risk communities
Grant Requirements
  • Grantees are required to file a report on the impact of their grants 90 days after receipt of funds
  • Data from final grant reports can be shared publicly
  • Grant program subject to Terms and Conditions. Applications must be received by 11:59:59 pm ET on April 24, 2020. See terms for full eligibility criteria, grant evaluation process and grant restrictions.
Note: Publishers who received funds from the $2 million COVID-19 Community Network grant program are still eligible to apply; organizations that haven’t yet received funding will be prioritized.
Sign up for the Facebook Journalism Project newsletter to receive updates about grant applications and Facebook’s ongoing efforts to support the news industry during the COVID-19 crisis.
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The Meta Journalism Project works with publishers around the world to strengthen the connection between journalists and the communities they serve. It also helps address the news industry's core business challenges, through trainings, programs and partnerships.