Chicago COVID-19 Journalism Fund

Grant Opportunity

Purpose

To support media organizations responding to local information needs related to COVID-19 and covering the public health emergency’s impact on Chicagoland communities. All organizations that receive a grant must make the coverage they produce with these funds freely available to the public.

Term and Amount

Six-month grants, up to $10,000

Application Deadline

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Criteria

The fund will prioritize support for organizations meeting the following criteria:

• Small and Medium Organizations: Budget of $2,000,000 or less
• Audience: Based in and principally serving residents of the Chicago region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or Will Counties); with preference for those serving historically marginalized audiences, such as those speaking languages other than English
• Capacity: at least one full-time editor or reporter
• Frequency: regularly publishing content (minimum avg of one article weekly)

Grant Use

This grant opportunity is open to for-profit and nonprofit media outlets.

For-Profit Outlets
For-profit outlets will need to demonstrate how this grant would support work in the public benefit that would not otherwise be possible. Grant funds may not be used for capital expenses. Grant funds may be used for: reporter (staff or freelance) compensation, operating costs related to COVID-19 coverage, e.g. non-capital technology costs that enable remote working, such as Zoom.

Nonprofit Outlets
For nonprofit outlets, grant funds will be unrestricted in purpose.

No funds may be used to support political campaign activity. Grantees will be required to report on the use of the funds.

Background: COVID-19 Augments Strain on Local Outlets

This new, short-term fund will offer immediate support to media organizations focused on meeting their communities’ information needs related to COVID-19.

In an emergency, whether it be a natural disaster, violent conflict, or global pandemic, consistent access to trusted, quality information is essential to restoring peace, health, and security. As the world contends with the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are looking local for news of how to contend with the growing public health emergency. Yet local outlets, already facing uncertain financial futures, are suffering added pressure as COVID-19-driven quarantine policies and ensuing event cancellations hit ad and sponsorship revenue. This threat is especially grave for small community and ethnic media outlets, which serve many populations already facing higher barriers to information as a result of digital divides, economic and educational capacity, and preferring news in languages other than English.

Despite sudden, steep, financial challenges, from COVID-19 and the related global economic fallout, journalists are working around the clock to monitor a rapidly evolving situation. This combination of diminishing resources and augmented demand is placing an unprecedented strain on Chicago’s local media.

Local outlets are in urgent need of augmented support to withstand the short-term pressures on their bottom line and on their editors, reporters, and staff as they work to cover COVID-19. The current crisis will also likely have long-term consequences. Already, major donors are contacting outlets they support to notify them of the impact recent downturns in the financial markets will have on their ability to contribute this year and in future years, recalling a similar downturn in major gifts after the Great Recession.

Application Process

To apply, visit the McCormick Foundation’s online grant application portal. You will need to provide the following information via the portal:

1. Organization Information: Organization name, contact information, website, and total budget for current fiscal year
2. Community description: Describe your audience and how you are serving their information needs.
3. Requested Grant Amount (up to $10,000)
4. Plan for the grant: How will this grant support your ability to meet your community’s information needs related to COVID-19?
5. Links to recent stories: Please share links to at least four recent stories on COVID-19

Donate to the Journalism Fund

This fund was established by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Polk Bros. Foundation, and the Field Foundation to enhance the resiliency of Chicago’s critical news information ecosystem. We invite others to join us in ensuring communities have reliable access to trusted, quality information by donating to this fund. If you are interested, please contact Andres Torres, Democracy Program Officer, at antorres@mccormickfoundation.org to learn more.