$25 million to bring AP content to local newsrooms across the U.S.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced a $25 million dollar commitment to the AP Fund for Journalism (APFJ) to help power its first-of-its kind local news program which will equip under-resourced newsrooms with trusted AP content and services. 

The investment will allow APFJ to deliver nonpartisan, factual content and essential services to 100 additional local newsrooms in 2026 and 300 by 2028. This backing will help those newsrooms serve their audiences, widen their reach and strengthen their business operations –  building upon the success of Knight’s commitment of $5 million to The Associated Press in 2024 which helped to ensure state-based, public-service journalism was available in all 50 states.

“Knight has long believed that the most effective investments often build on what already works. By connecting the AP’s national infrastructure with local newsrooms, we can multiply impact and help communities gain broader access to trusted, independent reporting,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation.

The AP Fund for Journalism program has already supported nearly 50 participating news organizations to date through a pilot project that provides invaluable AP content including photo and video, alongside personalized newsroom services to help them deliver timely and relevant localized news to their audiences. APFJ has also received support from the Google News Initiative, Lilly Endowment and MacArthur Foundation.  

Created in 2024 by The Associated Press, APFJ’s mission is to support public service journalism and make it accessible to an ever-widening group of state and local news organizations in the U.S.

“The reality of the local news crisis in the U.S. means that many Americans continue to lack access to reliable reporting on issues that affect everyday life,” said APFJ CEO Rachel White. “News deserts are growing; local news outlets are under relentless pressure; and trusted journalism is becoming harder to find. APFJ is a landmark initiative tackling these challenges head on. Building on the strong results of our pilot program, we are now transforming this essential offering into a scalable, national civic infrastructure program that will continue to help local outlets respond faster, reach wider audiences and engage their communities more deeply, all while setting the stage for long-term sustainability.” 

Today’s announcement is the latest milestone for APFJ, which has in the past year created a pilot version of the local news program, installed a board of directors and launched a new website. For more information, visit apfj.org.