The grants will fund newspaper reports on critical topics such as schools and education, local government, healthcare, the environment and infrastructure. They will cover half the cost of adding a journalist to the staff of a newspaper. The newspaper will pay the remaining half of this salary.

To be eligible, the publications must be true Illinois Daily or Non-Daily newspapers that publish at least 48 issues per year. They should have an average of at least 25% news content, with paid subscribers accounting for over 50% of total circulation. The program will pay particular attention to independent and family newspapers.

“Good journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a healthy democracy,” said Marc Wilson, president of the Inland Press Foundation. “We hope our grant program can help fund newsrooms at a time of great stress for the industry and the country. We hope others will join us in this crucial cause.

In addition to the launch in Illinois, the foundation is also starting a second pilot project in Kansas. If successful in these two states, the foundation hopes to expand the grant program to other states.

Tom Slaughter, executive director of the Inland Foundation, said the Foundation was delighted to launch the pilot project in Illinois. “The Inland Foundation was established in Illinois over 40 years ago by members of the Inland Press Association,” Slaughter said. He added, “The association has a long history in Illinois, dating back to its founding in Chicago over 100 years ago.

We are delighted that the Inland Foundation can help support local journalism here.

Don Craven, president and CEO of the Illinois Press Association, called the grant program a “big opportunity” for Illinois newspapers. “This is just the start of a program that can help fill the Illinois newsroom reporter positions that have been lost over the years. We’re excited to be a part of the start of this effort, which we hope will grow into something much bigger in the years to come.

Slaughter said donations to the Community News Grant program can be made to the Inland Press Foundation at PO Box 3790, Lawrence, KS 66046, or https://www.inlandfoundation.org/contribute/. Donations are tax deductible.

The Inland Press Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit incorporated in Illinois. For the past 40 years, the foundation has played a leading and active role in organizing and funding programs to provide research and educational services to the American newspaper industry, with an emphasis especially on independent and family newspapers.

Illinois Press Association

The IPA was founded in 1865 as an organization for Illinois publishers. It has grown into one of the largest associations of state newspapers in the country, representing more than 400 dailies and weeklies.