KMUD News Awarded Prestigious Press Forward Grant to Expand Local Journalism and Empower Community Voices
For Immediate Release:
December 4th, 2024
Redway, CA
KMUD-Redwood Community Radio is excited to announce that our newsroom was named a recipient of the Press Forward grant, part of an inaugural, historic cohort of more than 200 local newsrooms across the country committed to filling critical information gaps and serving our communities. Since the early 1980s, KMUD has been at the forefront of independent, community-driven journalism, providing essential news coverage and amplifying the voices of our region. A review panel of national journalism leaders saw how our work is making a difference here at home.
We were selected from a pool of 931 applicants, with only 205 newsrooms chosen. Among the selected, 25% of the awards were directed to rural communities, and 7% went to radio stations like ours.
This year, we’ve worked hard to serve our community by:
Reporting on important community events like the Wailaki people celebrating the return of a traditional redwood canoe to the Eel River after 170 years and the Wiyot Tribe Seeing its Largest Land Return in Modern History.
Covering emergencies like the evacuation orders & warnings that were issued for Humboldt County during the Bomb Cyclone turned Atmospheric River which brought record-breaking rainfall.
Investigating the Ferndale horse racing deaths and homeless campfires that ignited concerns among Redway residents
Kept local government accountable by covering the Humboldt County Planning Commission, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Meetings, and interviewing local representatives like Natalie Arroyo, Michelle Bushnell, Steve Madrone, and Congressman Huffman.
This grant is an opportunity to continue that work. KMUD is set to receive approximately $100,000 over a two-year period in unrestricted funds. These funds can be used for general operating expenses such as wages, equipment, and leadership support, but we also aim to use them as a powerful tool to grow. We plan to leverage it to attract more funding through matching grants, ensuring we can serve Northern California for years to come.
The Press Forward grant will allow KMUD to expand its engagement and journalistic impact by enhancing local reporting, particularly in rural areas, and supporting the next generation of local reporters. Here’s how we plan to use the funds:
- Youth Journalism Training: KMUD will continue providing journalism training for young reporters in local schools and expand these programs, creating new opportunities for students to participate in broadcasting and media production.
- Journalism Training for Native Reporters: KMUD News is partnering with Native media makers, including the founder of KIDE in Hoopa, to train Native journalists. This collaboration with tribally owned and operated community radio stations will increase coverage of the region’s First Peoples and their sovereign nations.
- Travel Support: Additional funding will help cover travel expenses, enabling reporters to reach rural and underserved areas that have been difficult to cover due to high costs.
- Digital Access and Archiving: KMUD plans to enhance digital accessibility by creating a searchable archive of past broadcasts. We will partner with the Library of Congress to preserve and ensure long-term access to these valuable stories.
- Sustaining Operations and Expanding Partnerships: In the face of economic challenges, the grant will help sustain newsroom operations by funding staff, reporters, and community news programs. KMUD will also explore new opportunities for fundraising and underwriting, expanding partnerships with businesses and organizations that serve diverse communities.
KMUD is also hiring a newsroom assistant to help execute the aforementioned programs, ensuring the successful implementation and expansion of these initiatives. By using this grant strategically, KMUD will continue to provide critical local reporting, support underserved communities, and help grow the next generation of journalists.
Support for this grant came from members of the Wailaki Tribe, who endorsed KMUD News’ application to enhance coverage and address gaps in local journalism by amplifying voices and issues often overlooked by mainstream media.
“KMUD News has been instrumental in supporting and promoting our initiatives, providing a platform for our community to share our stories, challenges, and successes. Their commitment to editorial excellence, independence, and transparency has ensured that our voices are accurately and respectfully represented,” said Perry Lincoln of Native Health in Native Hands.
“Through their dedicated reporting, KMUD News has addressed longstanding inequalities in journalism by focusing on small, local newsrooms that produce original reporting in underserved communities. This approach has been crucial in highlighting the unique perspectives and needs of the Wailaki people and other Indigenous communities in Northern Mendocino, Southern Humboldt, and Southwestern Trinity counties. As a result, our community members are now part of the larger conversation on issues that deeply affect our lives, such as cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and health equity. KMUD News’ support has strengthened our efforts to build collaborations with state and federal organizations and local landowners, enhancing our stewardship programs on Kinest’e ancestral homelands. Their coverage has also emphasized the importance of reconnecting with our traditional knowledge, spiritual roles, and responsibilities, contributing to the circle of prevention, healing, recovery, and balance within our community.”
While this is a moment to celebrate, we also need local support to ensure long-term sustainability. Will you help us mark this milestone and prepare for what’s ahead by making a gift to KMUD today? Support our newsroom here: https://kmud.org/donate/one_time_donation/
Thank you for believing in Redwood Community Radio. With your support, we will continue to bring you essential stories and strengthen our democracy.
We also want to extend a special thank you to our incredible grants team, with heartfelt gratitude to Barbara G. Brenner for her dedication and tireless efforts in securing this vital funding for KMUD.
With sincere appreciation,
Lauren Schmitt
KMUD News Director
