Spotlight Delaware lands $1M to support investigative journalism

Independent investigative journalism in Delaware just got a major boost.

Spotlight Delaware, a project of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), has received a $1 million grant from the American Journalism Project (AJP) to support its nonprofit community-driven newsroom that will focus on investigating how public policy impacts the lives of Delawareans. 

The local investigative journalism project will use funds from the grant to establish its founding business team, including operations roles, development and membership. The team will be led by LJI CEO and founder Allison Taylor Levine. The LJI is also the parent organization of the Delaware Journalism Collaborative, of which Technical.ly is a member.

“Delawareans told us they want and need more local news that inspires and empowers them to participate in our democracy, builds stronger connections among neighbors and holds those in power to account,” Levine told Technical.ly. “They also asked us to help newsrooms work together to share the ideas and stories of different people. So we’re building Spotlight Delaware with our communities and, with the help of the American Journalism Project, we’re building it to last.”

The grant was one of four announced by the AJP this week. In all, $5.4 million was granted to nonprofit news organizations across the country. In addition to Spotlight Delaware, Deep South Today, Grist and New York Focus also earned funds.

AJP will also provide the four nonprofit news organizations “strategic support to grow their revenue, strengthen their organizations, and expand their local reporting capacity,” according to the announcement.

The grant’s funding organization was founded in 2019 as a venture philanthropy dedicated to local news. It has a portfolio of 44 grantee partners and a total of $55.3 million granted.

“We are in the midst of a rebirth in local news across this country, driven by a new generation of local news innovators changing the way we sustain community journalism,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project, in the announcement. “Each of these organizations have compelling visions for journalism that strengthens their communities. We’re thrilled to partner with them to help them build enduring organizations.”