SACRAMENTO, Calif.,
Nov. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- McClatchy's West Region Editor, Lauren Gustus, will lead a new company-wide
effort as Director of Community Funding Initiatives. In this
expanded role, Gustus will be responsible for building community
support for important local journalism initiatives through grants,
contributions from philanthropic organizations and individuals, and
partnerships with local stakeholders and readers.
"This expanded role reflects the tremendous work Lauren has had
in this space in just the last six months," said Kristin Roberts, vice president of News, in
announcing Gustus' role. "We've been inspired by other news
organizations that have embraced this model, and I'm confident that
with Lauren's leadership, we can see the same success."
Over the course of 2020, McClatchy plans to launch as many as 10
community-funded journalism labs in local newsrooms across the
country.
Already in 2019, Gustus has supported McClatchy's entry into
this space. She supported the September launch of The Fresno Bee's
Education Lab, a philanthropy- and community-funded editorial
initiative focusing on education issues critical to the advancement
of residents in Fresno, Calif.,
and the San Joaquin Valley. The
Education Lab will expand The Fresno Bee newsroom by 20
percent.
In September, she helped the Miami Herald launch an
Investigative Lab, a $1.5 million
fundraising effort to support the largest team of investigative
reporters in the South Florida
region. The Herald's groundbreaking reporting on Jeffery Epstein with the Perversion of Justice
package is just one example of high-impact reporting that starts at
a local level.
Last month, The Sacramento Bee launched Tipping Point Lab, a
4-person reporting team of journalists to cover Sacramento as it grows toward a prosperous and
inclusive future.
"Our goal is to welcome the communities served by McClatchy into
a deeper relationship with our local newsrooms," Gustus said. "We
know what happens in cities and towns across the United States that have lost their local
newspaper. In a challenging time for local journalism, it is
crucial that we both engage more consistently with those we serve
and build a bridge to sustainability."
Support for local journalism is possible thanks to
public-private partnership. Journalism-focused philanthropy has
quadrupled over the last 10 years, according to a recent report
from Media Impact Funders.
Editorial independence is a core value for all McClatchy
newsrooms, and funders have no editorial oversight, approval or
influence over the journalism produced by McClatchy reporters or
newsrooms.
Gustus will be assisted by a small team including Tim Ritchey, President & Publisher of The
Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced
Sun-Star and San Luis Obispo Tribune.
"Tim has been a great partner in ramping up in Fresno's Education Lab, working with the
philanthropic and business stakeholders," said Roberts. "We're
excited that he will bring his energy and insight to our
community-funded journalism efforts across the country."
Gustus will continue in her role as West Region Editor, with
responsibility for newsrooms in California, Washington and Idaho.
About McClatchy
McClatchy (NYSE American: MNI) operates 30 media companies in
14 states, providing each of its communities with strong
independent local journalism in the public interest and advertising
services in a wide array of digital and print
formats. McClatchy publishes iconic local brands
including the Miami Herald, The Kansas City
Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte
Observer, The (Raleigh) News &
Observer, and the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram. McClatchy is
headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., and listed on the New
York Stock Exchange American under the symbol MNI. #ReadLocal
CONTACT: Jeanne Segal, (202)
383-6085, jsegal@mcclatchy.com
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SOURCE McClatchy