Knight Foundation leads with $3M investment as community foundations unite to preserve and grow local journalism across South Florida
A regional commitment to rebuilding trust through local news
In a bold and necessary move to preserve the future of local journalism, five South Florida foundations have come together to launch Press Forward South Florida, a regional initiative dedicated to ensuring that all residents—regardless of location or language—have access to trustworthy, relevant, and independent news.
The initiative was unveiled on March 3, 2025, with a $3 million seed investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Housed by The Miami Foundation, the coalition also includes the Community Foundation of Broward, Coral Gables Community Foundation, and the Key Biscayne Community Foundation.
“We are a region of newcomers,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, CEO of The Miami Foundation. “Local news helps us connect across differences, ask critical questions, and build a better, more informed South Florida.”
With grantmaking to begin in late 2025, the Press Forward South Florida initiative is calling on the public to help shape its mission by participating in a regional news and information needs survey, available at https://bit.ly/localnewssurvey.
A united front to address a shrinking local news landscape
As traditional advertising dollars continue to flow toward social media and search platforms, local newsrooms have seen severe cuts to staff and resources. Press Forward South Florida seeks to counter this trend by investing in the sustainability of local media outlets, with the goal of strengthening civic engagement and community connection across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.
The Press Forward South Florida initiative is currently conducting a media ecosystem assessment, in partnership with the American Journalism Project, Florida International University’s Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center, and FIU’s School of Journalism and Media. These findings will inform a strategy designed to meet local information needs and uplift underserved communities.
“Local news fuels understanding and empowers residents,” said Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D., CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward. “This is why, for the first time ever, community foundations across three counties are joining forces to support it.”
Your Voice Matters – and so does local journalism
Press Forward South Florida is inviting 1,000 residents to share what they want and need from local news. Take the survey at https://bit.ly/localnewssurvey to help guide the future of media in your community.
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