On October 16th, WTIP North Shore Community Radio was named a Press Forward grant recipient. WTIP joins this inaugural, historic cohort of more than 200 local newsrooms across the country that are filling critical information gaps and working in service of our communities, thanks to funding from Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news.
Since 1998, WTIP has been striving to create dynamic community media for the future of the North Shore, by providing a forum for local perspectives that supports an informed public, is built on journalistic integrity, empowers storytelling, strengthens our democracy, and invests in the well-being of our community.
Motivated by the extraordinary quality and number of proposals, Press Forward is funding twice as many news organizations as it originally anticipated through its first open call. More than 900 proposals were received!
WTIP is proud to be part of a bright mosaic of independent, non-partisan sources that are reimagining what local news looks like across America. Our peers include newer nonprofits – some launched as information needs became evident during the pandemic – and enduring for-profits continuing to adapt and innovate after a century in business. Some newsrooms are reporting on the vast American countryside – where they are often the only news source for hundreds of miles – while other outlets are covering people of color and linguistically diverse communities that traditional news sources have overlooked. Each produces the everyday stories people need to make decisions about their daily lives. You can view the list of recipients at pressforward.news/grantees.
As Press Forward states, “Democracy flourishes when people have access to reliable information.” This grant will help WTIP continue to serve Cook County by providing local, community-centered journalism.
