Press Forward Wyoming

Press Forward is a national initiative created to strengthen communities by supporting and reinvigorating local news. This campaign, led by the MacArthur Foundation, has raised more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms, close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage, advance public policy that expands access to local news and to scale the infrastructure the sector needs to thrive.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

At a time when people have more access to information than ever before, it can be hard to understand that local news needs to be invigorated. However, the stark reality is that local news systems are fractured across the United States. The internet made it easier than ever to access news about your community but, it also caused a significant disruption to the business model that has supported newspaper publishers for more than 100 years.

Print ads and classifieds subsidized the real cost of news, keeping subscription costs low. As digital platforms provided low-cost, high-yield ad space, this critical support for newspapers disappeared.
At the same time, paid circulation and subscriptions rapidly declined as there was so much free content available digitally. Over the last 20 years, consumer willingness to pay for news has collapsed.
Finally, direct competition from social media sites like Facebook, X, Tik Tok displaced the role of local news. Now, friends, family, and various algorithms provide information directly to consumers with no intermediary.

Want to learn more about public perceptions of news in Wyoming? Click here to read the results of our 2024 Survey.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Traditional news, whether digital or print, is different than social media/citizen journalism – both play important roles in providing information.

Category	Traditional News	Social Media / Citizen Journalism
Gatekeeping & Editorial Standards	Professional editors and fact-checkers review stories before publication; guided by codes of ethics.	Anyone can publish instantly without editorial oversight; accuracy varies widely.
Accountability	Institutions and journalists are accountable (corrections, lawsuits, reputational risk).	Very little enforced accountability; misinformation can spread unchecked.
Speed vs. Depth	Prioritizes accuracy, context, and in-depth reporting; slower but more thorough.	Prioritizes speed and immediacy; often raw, real-time updates with less context.
Reach & Distribution	Distributed via newspapers, TV, radio, and official websites/apps.	Distributed instantly worldwide through platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube).
Funding & Incentives	Traditionally funded by ads & subscriptions; now shifting to paywalls, donations, philanthropy.	Monetized through platform ads, followers, or personal brands; incentivizes clicks and engagement.
Public Trust	More credible; uses sourcing, corrections, and transparency standards.	Trust depends on individual poster or community; highly variable and fragmented.
Role in Society	Acts as a watchdog, provides verified public information, supports democracy.	Amplifies diverse voices and perspectives; can challenge traditional narratives but risks spreading misinformation.

PRESS FORWARD WYOMING

Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) became a local chapter of the national initiative in 2024. Press Forward Locals are a network of chapters across the country where funders are bringing new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news.

In Wyoming, WYCF is committed to:

Building awareness about the fragility of the news ecosystem
Understanding the information needs of our communities
Supporting collaborations and innovative approaches to building back local news
Engaging with legacy publishers, digital outlets and new enterprises with the common goal of building an informed citizenry

Projects

Wyoming Local News Fund and Wyoming’s News Ecosystem

The brainchild of Melissa Cassutt, Wyoming Local News Fund envisions a future where all Wyoming residents have access to the local news and information they need to thrive. One of WLNF’s first projects was creating the Wyoming Local News & Information Ecosystem Report, the first study of its kind in Wyoming.

News Letter Journal & the Unabridged Fund

Newcastle’s News Letter Journal was established in 1890 and has served Weston County for over a century. Partner Bob Bonnar is interested in exploring new ways to ensure that the Journal is around for another 100 years by exploring mechanisms to diversify and stabilize revenue for the organization. Working with the Wyoming Community Foundation, we have established the Unabridged Fund as a charitable arm of the Journal. This is the first hybrid model created in Wyoming, allowing donors to support the charitable portion of the work of local news – public access to high-quality news and information. Gifts to the Unabridged Fund support news and information in Weston County and the surrounding area.

Press Forward Funding Opportunities

Open Call on Infrastructure: Up to $20 million in funding; Grants will be $500,000 to $1.5 million

Healthy communities deserve quality, local news and resilient, sustainable newsrooms. However, rapid changes have impacted
every facet of the news industry.

Non-profits can now submit ideas that strengthen local news’s essential
infrastructure by addressing common challenges newsrooms face in:

- Building Audience
- Strengthening Operations
- Cultivating Talented People
- Generating Revenue

Two Phase Application Process. First deadline: 11:59 a.m. ET Jan. 15, 2025

Awards Announced: Late Spring 2025

Learn more about Press Forward’s Open Call on Infrastructure: pressforward.news/opencall

First Wyoming Recipient of Press Forward Grant is News Letter Journal from Newcastle

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Bob Bonnar shares that he’s thankful for the grant so he can take care of his staff and get them some much needed equipment upgrades. He also plans to get training for himself and staff to turn the two years of funding into a permanent revenue source for their media properties like YouTube and digital newsletters.

News Letter Journal covers the news, sports, and entertainment important to the people of Weston County, Wyo., and provides them with the information they need to be active and engaged citizens.

Read about the grant NLJ recieved here.

Read about the first round of grants here.

Mission: Connecting people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming.

WYCF Headquarters

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00-5:00
Address: 1472 N. 5th Street, Suite 201
Laramie, WY 82072
Email: wcf@wycf.org
Phone: 307-721-8300

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