A Letter from our Executive Director
Challenges abound for local newsrooms, but I want to focus on the positives — because Report for America has helped achieve a lot of them.
This summer, we’re celebrating the 100,000 stories that our corps of talented, service-minded journalists have produced since we began fielding reporters in local newsrooms throughout the country in 2018. In this report, we showcase some of their terrific work from this past service year — and its wide-ranging impacts that include:
• Helping our partner newsrooms cover under-reported issues and communities. When readers have access to better local coverage, and see themselves in the news, they become more engaged, aware and trusting of the news.
• Finding journalists for our newsrooms whose skills exactly match their needs — recruiting at a scale they can’t do on their own. And we’re the nation’s largest pipeline for journalists of color.
• Proving that good journalism is key to financial stability for newsrooms. Donors have been generous when they see our corps improving local coverage.
• Turning good local journalists into better ones — and helping to keep them in journalism — by providing unparalleled training, mentorship and other support.
• Lifting the entire industry by sharing insights and good ideas from our newsroom network.
Our work is made possible through our donors. As we rise to meet this moment, thanks for stepping up so we can deliver.
Kim Kleman, Executive Director Report for America
A Note from Our CEO
What the Report for America journalist-first model is doing is building the integrity, trust and sustainability that local news needs right now, because that’s also what democracy needs right now.
Each day we are fighting the noise of misinformation with an exceptional, human journalist connecting and informing communities in every corner of our country. The flagship program of The GroundTruth Project, Report for America is unrivaled in our sector, not only because of our caliber of reporters and their 100,000 stories, but because of the support we offer newsrooms to bring in and sustain revenue to ensure that investments in news are retained and expanded over time.
Rob Zeaske, CEO & President, The GroundTruth Project
100,000 UN TOLD STORIES
More than 100,000 stories have been told since 2018, when Report for America first began placing journalists in local newsrooms. These are stories that would have gone unreported if not for our corps members, newsrooms and proven journalist-first model.
759 corps members
429 host newsrooms
$60M in local newsroom revenue generated and sustained through our strategic support and partnership 82% of program alumni still working in journalism
North Carolina
When the Power Went Out, He Kept Communities Informed
Gerard Albert III was just three months into his new role covering western North Carolina rural communities for Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) when Hurricane Helene tore its way through the region in the fall of 2024. Overnight, the first-year Report for America corps member found himself facing the incredible challenge of living through the worst natural disaster in the state’s history while also reporting on its impact.
His coverage, which was featured on PBS NewsHour, earned Gerard the first-ever Public Media New Voices Award from the Public Media Journalists Association. Blue Ridge Public Radio was also recognized for its Helene coverage, earning two prestigious Edward R. Murrow awards for the newsroom’s audience engagement and overall reporting.
When thousands of area residents turned to radio stations like BPR for updates during Helene’s immediate aftermath due to downed power, internet and cable, Gerard spent nights sleeping on the studio floor to provide listeners with vital storm updates and aid and recovery information. He went on to publish more than 47 stories covering Helene, including a fact-checking piece that successfully debunked misinformation claiming a large number of bodies hadn’t been included in the hurricane’s death toll.
Gerard’s work had impacts beyond ensuring that North Carolinians had access to reliable information in the days, weeks and months following Hurricane Helene. His reporting prompted an increase in overall station listenership and charitable contributions. BPR’s social media presence grew fivefold. The station itself doubled — even tripled, in some cases — new audience metrics. Through it all, Report for America provided Gerard and BPR with wraparound supports: emergency funding, coaching and mental health resources to ensure the team had what they needed to continue their important work.
Gerard Albert III
–
“Events like these shape communities, and it is the role of public radio to tell the stories and share the voices of those most affected with precise detail and genuine compassion.”
— Gerard Albert III on receiving the Public Media New Voices Award from PMJA
Residents of Asheville, North Carolina, in the days following Hurricane Helene.
PHOTOS BY GERARD ALBERT III/BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO
Holding Power to Account and Getting Results
Founded in 2012, New Mexico In Depth is a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom committed to investigative, data-driven reporting with a focus on solutions. In partnership with Report for America, they recruited Bella Davis as their first Indigenous affairs reporter to confront one of the state’s most urgent and overlooked crises: the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
When Bella discovered that a long-promised state case tracking system — approved by the legislature — remained unimplemented two years after its passage, she relentlessly pursued the story. Over the next two years, Bella produced more than 40 deeply reported stories that exposed systemic failures, elevated Indigenous voices and galvanized public attention. Her reporting didn’t just inform — it drove action. Legislators and community advocates cited her work directly in the push for accountability, culminating in the long-awaited launch of the tracking portal in 2024.
After completing her Report for America service, Bella accepted a permanent reporting position at New Mexico In Depth, joining the ranks of more than half of her graduating cohort who continue strengthening local journalism in their host communities.
Local Newsroom Sustainability
Our program is building a new business model for local news — where local journalism promotes local philanthropy as part of what fuels a healthy, thriving information ecosystem.
We partner with newsrooms at every stage — from those hoping to host a corps member, to current host newsrooms,
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Bella Davis
Colleen Harrison Jackson holds her late son Kyle’s college diploma while surrounded by photos and memories of him. – PHOTO BY UNGELBAH DÁVILA/NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH
The Reporter Who Stayed
When wildfires devastated the island community of Lāhainā on Maui in 2023, Report for America and AsAmNews created a new beat to ensure the long-term coverage the community deserved.
First-year corps member Yiming Fu moved to Maui specifically for the role — without this partnership, AsAmNews would have had no reporting presence in Hawai‘i at all. Over the past year, Yiming has published more than 30 stories on the disaster’s aftermath, focusing on the experiences of those most affected, particularly within Lāhainā’s Filipino, working-class and immigrant communities.
As the only reporter consistently attending local board meetings and community events, Yiming has earned the trust of residents by showing up, listening and reporting with care. His work has not only deepened AsAmNews’ coverage of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, but also arrived at a pivotal moment for the outlet, as they have partnered with our
to program alumni — to grow their resources, expand their impact, and ultimately create more local journalism. Whether it’s co-writing grants, crafting fundraising campaigns, identifying donors or simply offering encouragement, we’re in it with them. As the free fiscal sponsor to more than 60 for-profit newsrooms, we help open the door to philanthropic funding, making local news not just possible, but sustainable.
Rolleen Cosma, Kassel Taeza-Vincent and Tiffany Somera at their planting day with Kaiāulu Initiatives. They hope to promote mental health outside of the office and utilize the sun, fresh air and ʻāina in their healing. – PHOTO BY TRISTEN KYRA SEGURITAN/ASAMNEWS
local news sustainability team to grow grassroots support through donor screening, fundraising coaching and campaign planning. The result: more consistent revenue beyond foundation grants — and journalism that reflects the voices of a community often overlooked.
“The local news sustainability team uplifts me when I’m down and gives me a framework for us to go out and seek additional funding. I love that [they] have added help to generate advertising revenue.”
– Randall Yip, Founder and Editor, AsAmNews
Maui, Hawaii
Yiming Fu
HEAR FROM YIMING ABOUT BUILDING TRUST IN COMMUNITY:
Oakland, California
Hiram
Alejandro Durán
Earning Trust, Frame by Frame
Trust is necessary to effectively cover the impacts of policy and politics on a community. Often that connection comes from speaking the same language, sharing similar backgrounds or showing up in shared spaces. Hiram Alejandro Durán, a photojournalist for El Tímpano, is known for his ability to visually capture the stories of undocumented residents in a way that’s powerful and compelling but also puts their safety first. Said his editor, “[Our policy] to take special precautions with the identities of undocumented people is possible because Hiram is skilled enough to make anonymous photos resonant.”
“Local communities deserve to see themselves represented with fairness, vibrance, and dignity. Audiences consume more photography than ever, and our organizations are finding innovative ways to help photojournalists engage folks where they’re at, with sophisticated, relevant and above all, honest imagery.”
–
Ben Brody, director of photography at Report for America
Hiram’s award-winning work is made possible through Report for America’s partnership with CatchLight, whose mission is to strengthen local news by investing in visual journalism. This year’s photojournalist corps is our program’s largest yet, with 17 members joining local newsrooms around the country.
Immigrants reflect on their expectations and trepidations a few days before Donald Trump is sworn into office for the second time. – PHOTOS BY HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN/EL TÍMPANO
Sustained Capacity for Visual Journalism
Report for America has partnered with CatchLight since 2019 to bring critical visual storytelling to underserved communities and to counter the decades-long decline in visual journalism jobs across the U.S. In particular, small and mid-sized newsrooms often lack the photojournalists that can help bring stories to life for readers and visually document local news. These photojournalists have produced visual reporting that has informed public policy, advanced civic dialogue and cultivated trust with local audience. In 2024, they produced more than 300 editorial assignments and won 15 journalism awards.
Filling a Coverage Gap, Block by Block
For years, Atlanta’s Southside was overlooked by mainstream media. But through DorMiya Vance’s reporting for WABE, the voices of this vibrant, historically Black community are finally being heard. A 2025 Report for America program graduate now hired into a permanent position at WABE, DorMiya produced more than 90 stories focused on housing, nonviolence and Black life in Atlanta — from wrongful evictions to the rise of Black women farmers. Her reporting brought local issues to light, and she received a Regional Emmy nomination for a story featuring metro Atlanta mayors reflecting on the 2024 presidential election.
Corps and Newsroom Excellence
A network of regional managers, all accomplished journalists, make up Report for America’s corps and newsroom excellence team. Based on clustered geography, they’re the connective tissue to the organization for corps members and newsrooms. This team ensures optimal reporter-newsroom pairings, provides professional development and support, and builds a foundation for and
to long-term success.
“RFA was a program that positively tested me. I grew as a journalist and individual. My regional manager has always been real with me. She’s someone who was always in my corner. She’s celebrated me and has never made me feel small when it came to asking for help or things I needed and deserved in my newsroom.”
— DorMiya Vance on support
from her Report for America
regional manager
DorMiya Vance
connection
Left to right: East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham, College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor and WABE’s Southside reporter DorMiya Vance. – PHOTO BY WABE
Uncovering a Broken System, One Story at a Time
In New Hampshire, some of the state’s most vulnerable kids — those living in state custody or facing mental health and behavioral challenges — were being quietly sent to residential care facilities, often far from their families and without consistent public oversight. For years, these stories went largely unreported.
Then Michaela Towfighi joined the Concord Monitor as a Report for America corps member.
Over the course of three years, Michaela published more than 500 stories focused on the lives of working- and middleclass residents across the state. But one project, in particular, stood out. Her “Sent Away” series, a six-month investigation into the fractured residential treatment system for children, gave voice to families navigating trauma and to kids caught in a system few understood. It sparked overdue conversations and brought attention to the emotional and logistical toll this system places on those it’s meant to serve.
Michaela’s tenacity and care didn’t go unnoticed. In backto-back years, she was named Rookie of the Year and then Journalist of the Year by the New Hampshire Press Association — a rare double honor. And after completing her term with Report for America, she earned a coveted fellowship with The New York Times, where she now brings the same depth and thoughtfulness to the Culture desk.
and Arlen Sheaff at home in Exeter. A few years ago, the Sheaffs sought out a residential placement for Arlen.
FORESTER/ MONITOR STAFF
The Concord Monitor is one of Report for America’s longeststanding newsroom partners, and Michaela is one of four corps members placed there since 2018. Her journey reflects what’s possible when emerging reporters are supported to go beyond the surface — and when local newsrooms are given the resources to serve their communities with rigor and compassion.
Investigative Editing Corps
A partnership between Report for America and Investigative Editing Corps, which provides our partner newsrooms editing resources to tackle investigative projects, allowed Michaela to produce “Sent Away,” the multi-part housing reporting project she says propelled her career.
LEARN FROM MICHAELA WHAT IT TAKES TO TELL THESE EMOTIONAL STORIES:
Michaela Towfighi
Nicole
– PHOTO BY GEOFF
Local Reporters Unite to Cover America’s Disappearing Wetlands
For millions of Americans living along the Mississippi River Basin — a region that touches 31 states and nearly half of the continental U.S. — climate change isn’t a distant threat. It’s a lived experience. Yet for years, communities across this vast region saw little reporting that connected their struggles to broader environmental shifts reshaping the land, water and ways of life. That began to change, thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration powered by Report for America.
In partnership with the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Report for America helped launch the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk — a first-of-its-kind regional reporting initiative. This past year, the Desk embedded 15 corps members in local newsrooms from Minnesota to Louisiana, uniting them through a shared mission: to tell the underreported stories of climate, agriculture and water in the heart of America. The results have been extraordinary. Collectively, these journalists produced more than 1,200 stories, appearing in outlets
ranging from small-town newspapers to national publications. Their work culminated in “Down the Drain,” an ambitious eight-part series that explored the fragile future of America’s wetlands. The series — crafted by nine Report for America corps members — traced vanishing coastlines, flood-prone neighborhoods, and contested legal policies, all through the voices of cattle farmers, hunters, scientists and residents.
“For people living in the largest watershed in the country, reporting about land and water is too often missing. For them, ‘news desert’ takes on a new meaning. Our job is to turn those deserts into oases where fact-based, locallyinformed coverage of the environment is readily available.”
— Sara Shipley Hiles, Executive Director, Ag & Water Desk, and Associate Professor, Missouri School of Journalism
“America’s wetlands represent diverse ecosystems, but they are often misunderstood and under-appreciated,” said Tegan Wendland, former project editorial director. “At the Desk, we’re uniquely positioned to tell this story from headwaters to delta — and our Report for America corps members were instrumental in bringing it to life.”
In a region often underserved by environmental journalism, this corps brought depth, collaboration and community back to the beat. It’s a testament to what’s possible when local reporters are supported — and when the stories that matter most are given the resources to rise.
Madeline Heim
Catilin Looby
Lucas Dufalla
Phillip Powell
Cassandra Stephenson
Delaney Dryfoos
Elise Plunk
Illan Ireland
Jess Savage
PHOTO BY MIKE DE SISTI/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
PHOTO BY MARYJO GINGRAS/ASHLAND COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPT.
PHOTO BY LUCAS DUFALLA/ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
PHOTO BY NICK ROHLMAN/THE GAZETTE
Birmingham, Alabama
Shaping the Future of Justice Reporting in Alabama
In Birmingham, where communities have long grappled with cycles of youth incarceration and systemic concerns, coverage of criminal justice has rarely focused on solutions. But when Alaina Bookman joined AL.com as a Report for America corps member, she brought a new lens — one grounded in empathy, accuracy and accountability.
During her corps term, Alaina produced nearly 400 stories, many of them part of AL.com’s “Beyond the Violence” project examining whether the city can grow beyond its crime problem and become safer, healthier and happier. Her reporting on RESTORE, a juvenile reentry program, earned national recognition from the Solutions Journalism Network. More importantly, it gave readers a fuller picture of what a future Birmingham could look like.
Alaina is one of 14 members in Report for America’s criminal justice cohort — a group of corps members specially trained to cover this high-stakes beat. Through expert mentorship from leaders like The Marshall Project and hands-on newsroom experience, she developed the skills needed to navigate a deeply complex system, earning the trust of her community along the way.
Thanks to her impact and growth, AL.com hired Alaina into a permanent role — joining more than half of her fellow 2025 Report for America graduates who are continuing their mission beyond their service term.
Corps Member Training and
Led by a full-time training manager, Report for America partners with top journalists and organizations to offer high-impact training that sharpens skills, strengthens reporting, and builds resilience. First-year corps members begin with a comprehensive orientation, while third-year members join a professional
Alaina Bookman
RESTORE program manager Antski Williams outside of the Jefferson County Family Resource Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
– PHOTO BY WILL MCLELLAND
Turning Grief Into Groundbreaking Journalism
As a Report for America corps member with New York Amsterdam News, Shannon Chaffers reported on gun violence in Black and brown communities with care and tenacity. That meant asking difficult questions and truly listening to the experiences of her sources.
The emotional toll of those conversations was real, but so was their impact. Shannon’s dedication helped her build lasting trust with sources and uncover deeper truths in her reporting. Her contributions to “Hidden Costs: The Financial Toll of Gun Violence,” brought long-overdue attention to the economic burdens survivors face — from lost income to medical debt to legal expenses. The series not only resonated with readers, but it also earned Shannon a finalist spot for the prestigious Livingston Award, first place in the Journalistic Innovation
Development
development program designed to help them lead from any role. Throughout the year, corps members also gain access to expert-led workshops, free memberships to leading journalism associations, a supportive peer community, and a robust library of training resources. Nearly 80 trainings were offered this past year.
category for the National Headliner Awards, and recognition as Best New Journalist by the Newswomen’s Club of New York.
As part of Report for America’s national network of local journalists, Shannon didn’t just grow her skills — she shared them. She spoke on a panel for fellow corps members, helping others navigate the emotional terrain of trauma-informed reporting with compassion and clarity.
In a beat that demands both courage and nuance, Shannon’s work stands as a model of what’s possible when young journalists are supported. They lead with heart, and report with purpose.
Shannon Chaffers
Kareem Nelson reflects on the challenges he faced after being shot and paralyzed at 20 years old. – PHOTO BY SHANNON CHAFFERS
By the Numbers 2024-2025 Corps Year
THE CORPS
52% of corps members identify as people of color
9,019` stories published
60% of corps members identify as women
THE NEWSROOMS
152 host newsrooms with at least one corps member, all of which received full editorial support and sustainability services.
THE SUPPORT THE WORK
$12M
raised locally across newsroom partners through local newsroom fundraising and sustainability support
76 training and development sessions provided to corps members
22 trainings for newsrooms led by our local newsroom sustainability team
THE RETENTION
graduates hired by their host newsrooms into permanent positions 181 reporters in the field
36 additional “Accelerator” newsrooms received coaching, training and fiscal sponsorship (if needed) in hopes of hosting a corps member in the future.
55%
167 industry mentors volunteered their time and expertise
The Power of Partnership
Through partnership, we help newsrooms and journalists meet today’s most challenging moments and deliver the fact-based information communities need. From specialized corps member training and one-on-one mentorship, to cohort-model development and industry exposure, we are fortifying our proven model. To all of our partners: thank you.
North Carolina-based corps members attend a statewide local news summit in Durham, North Carolina, with support from the NC Local News Workshop featuring trainers Emma Carew Grovum, director of careers and culture at The Marshall Project, and Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen. Also pictured are Maria Elena Fernandez, Report for America regional manager, and Priska Neely, training manager.
Ag & Water Desk
Arizona Media Association
The Associated Press
CatchLight
Investigative Editing Corps
The Marshall Project
– PHOTO BY NATHAN TISDALE/ REPORT FOR AMERICA
Fueling the Future of Local News
In late 2024, Report for America received a transformational $20 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — the largest grant in our organization’s history. The funding, which will be distributed over the next seven years, will fuel and expand our mission to strengthen local journalism. This long-term investment will support hundreds of journalists in under-covered communities, help scale our service model and advance innovative newsroom sustainability strategies.
Together, these journalists have produced thousands of essential, communityrooted stories — stories that would have otherwise gone untold, amplifying local voices, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening the fabric of American democracy. None of this impact would be possible without the generosity and belief of our donor community.
The GroundTruth Project, home of Report for America, Board of Directors
Chris Bake
Dinesh Balliah
Dean Baquet
Jim Bildner
Mark Contreras
Andy Cunningham
Robin D’Alessandro
David H. Feinberg
Joanne Heyman
Alan Khazei
Jordan Meranus
Clayton O’Toole
Anya Schiffrin
Amy Guggenheim Shenkan
Calvin Sims
Karen Toulon
Dahni Tsuboi
Ann Davis Vaughan
Maribel Perez Wadsworth
Bill Whitaker
Ex Officio Board Members
Charles Sennott
Steven Waldman
Rob Zeaske
Partially collapsed Key Bridge in Baltimore. – PHOTO BY KT KANAZAWICH/REPORT FOR AMERICA ALUM
Thank You to Our Supporters
Our work is powered by the generosity of donors who believe in the vital role of local journalism.*
$750,000 +
Anonymous (2)
Knight Foundation
The Hearthland Foundation
$250,000 - $749,999
Bake Family Trust
Microsoft
Pivotal Ventures
Posner Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Select Equity
University of Missouri School of Journalism and the Walton Family Foundation
$100,000 - $249,999
Anonymous
Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Heising-Simons Foundation
Henry Kimelman Family Foundation
Henry Luce Foundation
Jonathan Logan Family Foundation
Park Foundation
Spring Point Partners
The Chicago Community Trust
The Just Trust
The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation
The Tow Foundation
$25,000 - $99,999
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Anonymous (2)
Robin D’Alessandro
Joyce Foundation
M J Chelsea Fund
Minneapolis Foundation
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation
Sparkjoy Foundation
The Steven M and Joyce E Tadler Charitable Trust
The Miami Foundation
The Panonica Foundation
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
Alice Yoakum
You Have Our Trust Fund
Rob and Jessica Zeaske
$5,000 - $24,999
Anonymous (2)
Around the Table Foundation
Joan Calandra
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
Cashel Family Fund
Cow Hollow Fund
David Feinberg
Kenneth P. and Claire V. Gibbs Fund
Sharon Hessney
Institute for Nonprofit News
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Kivel-Goldstein Family Fund
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation
Linda Mason and Roger Brown
Jordan Meranus
Mostyn Foundation
Sacajawea Charitable Foundation
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Strong Foundation of New York
The Barinaga Goodman Fund of West Marin Fund
Ellen Tykeson & Ken Hiday
Ann and Richard Vaughan
Ellie and Lewis Wertheim
$1,000 - $4,999
Louise Adler
Lawrence Altman
Anonymous (3)
Nancy Auensen
David Berman
Peter and Susan Bernard Charitable Gift Fund
Amy Bones
Harold & Stephanie Bronson
Sean Brown and Laura Filkins Charitable Gift Fund
Nancy Cowan
Paul and Jacalyn Daniels
James Dean Foundation
Mark & Christine Fitzstevens
Daniel Franklin Jr.
Benno Friedman
Patricia Gray-Thomas
Marni Grossman
Matthew Hatoun and Tiffany Chang
Adam Hawley
Hazard Family Foundation
Joanne Heyman
Joss Family Fund
Rochelle Kaplan and Arthur Lipson
Kyle Kerbawy
Stephen Latham
Shannon Lee
Edward Levine and Isabella Porter
Clifford Levy
Sharon Love
LVW Gift Fund
Maisie Gift Fund
Amy Mucha
Brian Munden
Jessica Naugle
Julia O’Neal
Michael O’Reilly
Erin and Kevin Oliver
Joy Overstreet
Marnie Crawford Samuelson Charitable Fund
Cecilia and Lee Sandwen
Diana Schmidt
Ryan Shachoy
Amy Guggenheim Shenkan and Ed Shenkan
Suzanne and Carl Shepherd
Bryan Sperry
Elizabeth Steele Fund
Hidegarde Stover
The New York Community Trust
The Slote Giving Fund
Townsend Fund
Dhani Tsuboi
Charlie Uihlein
The Robert Cushman Woods Van Nostrand Fund
John Vessey
Steven Waldman
William and Cathy Waters
William Whitaker
Burns Woodward
*recent annual philanthropic investment in Report for America and The GroundTruth Project
