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What is Press Forward?

About

Press Forward is a national initiative created to strengthen communities by supporting and reinvigorating local news. This campaign, led by the MacArthur Foundation, has raised more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms, close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage, advance public policy that expands access to local news and to scale the infrastructure the sector needs to thrive.

Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) became a local chapter of the national initiative in 2024. Press Forward Locals are a network of chapters across the country where funders are bringing new donors and foundations together to expand resources for local news.

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What's the problem?

At a time when people have more access to information than ever before, it can be hard to understand that local news needs to be invigorated. However, the stark reality is that local news systems are fractured across the United States.

Internet

The internet made it easier than ever to access news about your community but, it also caused a significant disruption to the business model that has supported newspaper publishers for more than 100 years.

Cost

Print ads and classifieds subsidized the real cost of news, keeping subscription costs low. As digital platforms provided low-cost, high-yield ad space, this critical support for newspapers disappeared.

Subscription

At the same time, paid circulation and subscriptions rapidly declined as there was so much free content available digitally. Over the last 20 years, consumer willingness to pay for news has collapsed.

Competition

Finally, direct competition from social media sites like Facebook, X, Tik Tok displaced the role of local news. Now, friends, family, and various algorithms provide information directly to consumers with no intermediary.

Learn more

Want to learn more about public perceptions of news in Wyoming? Read the results of our 2024 survey.

Learn More

What's the Difference?

Traditional News
Social Media / Citizen Journalism
Editorial Standards
Professional editors and fact-checkers review stories before publication; guided by codes of ethics.
Anyone can publish instantly without editorial oversight; accuracy varies widely.
Accountability
Institutions and journalists are accountable (corrections, lawsuits, reputational risk).
Very little enforced accountability; misinformation can spread unchecked.
Speed vs. Depth
Prioritizes accuracy, context, and in-depth reporting; slower but more thorough.
Prioritizes speed and immediacy; often raw, real-time updates with less context.
Reach & Distribution
Distributed via newspapers, TV, radio, and official websites/apps.
Distributed instantly worldwide through platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube).
Funding & Incentives
Traditionally funded by ads & subscriptions; now shifting to paywalls, donations, philanthropy.
Monetized through platform ads, followers, or personal brands; incentivizes clicks and engagement.
Public Trust
More credible; uses sourcing, corrections, and transparency standards.
Trust depends on individual poster or community; highly variable and fragmented.
Role in Society
Acts as a watchdog, provides verified public information, supports democracy.
Amplifies diverse voices and perspectives; can challenge traditional narratives but risks spreading misinformation.