Learn more about the Miami Herald Impact Journalism Fund
Impact Journalism Fund
Your local champions
For more than 100 years, the Miami Herald has served our community with fact-centered news, practical information, features and investigative journalism that help South Floridians live better lives. In 1977, el Nuevo Herald (then el Miami Herald) was created to serve our community in Spanish. Our independent reporting on schools, government and this diverse community is key to our democracy. In the digital age, our websites reach more an average of 16 million unique visitors each month and another 3.2 million on social media and via subscription newsletters.
Our work has won 23 Pulitzer Prizes and dozens of other national, regional and state awards. More importantly, it has made South Florida a better place to live.
Philanthropy and Journalism
Across the country, fact-based journalism providers are working with private philanthropy to expand community-service and accountability coverage. They include the Seattle Times, the New York Times, the Oregonian, the New Orleans Times-Picayune Advocate, the Houston Chronicle and many others.
In South Florida, the Miami Herald Impact Journalism Fund has partnered with the Miami Foundation and our fiscal sponsor, Journalism Funding Partners, to invite tax-deductible donations and ensure that funds are used in accordance with tax codes and donor intent. The funds are used only to add journalism resources and are not used for regular business expenses.
Editorial independence is a core value. While we value the support and partnership of our funding partners, outside funders will not have any editorial oversight, approval or influence over the content.
We do not accept funding from government entities, government-funded organizations, for-profit or nonprofit organizations substantially controlled by elected or appointed officials or organizations dedicated to lobbying or political activities.
For additional information, contact Jane Wooldridge, Senior Director, jwooldridge@miamiherald.com or 786-547-1147.
Economic Equity + Mobility
South Florida is a region of great wealth, beauty and promise. For residents and tourists in areas of luxury, it might be possible to believe South Florida’s blue skies and sunshine are a metaphor for universal quality of life.
But that’s not so. For the past 15 years, Miami has undergone a wrenching evolution from a second-tier, regional metro to a true global city. With the benefits there are growing pains, and our region has transformed from a place where a middle income provided a comfortable life for hundreds of thousands of people to a metropolis beset by a housing crisis of alarming breadth and a level of economic inequality that matches that of Colombia. Exposing the continuing causes of this crisis – and finding solutions – will benefit all who live here now, and all who will be drawn here in the future.
Our goal is to raise $1 million for an Economic Equity + Mobility initiative. This would enable us to to add two full-time reporters, a data visualization specialist and an editor to our existing investigative resources for a two-year period. It also will enable us to embed reporting teams in underserved neighborhoods in mobile newsrooms. When we have reached our Phase I goal of $325,000, we will be able to add a senior Journalist in Residence reporting position for two years.
Climate Change + Environment
Florida’s fragile ecosystem makes our region perhaps the most vulnerable in the country to climate change, from rising seas to escalating temperatures and ever-more powerful hurricanes. It impacts literally every person who lives here: construction workers, commercial fishermen, homeowners, renters, Realtors, urban residents, hospitality workers, farmers, investors.
Community members have funded two climate positions in addition to our company-supported senior reporter. This team is exploring the economic impacts of climate change to our community, correcting misinformation about climate change and sharing information about potential solutions. Through our newsletter, Stemming the Tide, our team is letting residents know about actionable steps that both individuals and governments can take now.
This effort has been made possible through generous contributions by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Foundation, the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation, Florida International University in collaboration with the Knight Foundation, the Perry J. Cohen Foundation and the Energy Foundation.
Investigative Journalism
The Miami Herald is recognized internationally for its investigative journalism. Our tradition of holding the powerful accountable and exposing wrongdoing has made this one of the best and most decorated newsrooms in the United States, with 23 Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards.
From our investigation into the sweetheart deal given serial sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to stories exposing poor treatment of vulnerable children and corruption in local government, the Herald’s reporting is ambitious and change-making. It has an impact in Miami, the state of Florida and beyond.
We do this with a handful of dedicated people. Additional resources will allow us to will create one of the largest independent investigative teams in the country. This team will call for greater accountability through its reporting and engage the public, stakeholders and key sources as we create impact here and beyond.
Our goal is to raise $1 million for investigative reporting efforts. This would enable us to to add two full-time reporters, a data visualization specialist, a videographer and an editor to our existing investigative resources for a two-year period. At each milestone of $200,000 we will be able to add a position.
Our contributors
We thank all those who have support our work with their donations. They include:
Esserman Family Fund
Florida International University School of Communication + Journalism
Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation, in honor of Susana Ibarguen
Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Foundation
Knight Disinformation Fund at The Miami Foundation, supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners
David and Christina Martin Family Foundation
Eddy and Katie Arriola
RoseEllen Green
Ken O'Keefe
Energy Foundation
Tony and Conchy Argiz
Christine Barney
Perry J. Cohen Foundation
C.L. Conroy
Jaret Davis
Robin Denison
Michael Farra
Fryd Family Foundation
Ed and Lucy Harper
JC Liscano
Aida Levitan / US Century Bank
Carmen Morris
Nitin and Anshu Motwani
Laurie Weiss Nuell
Jorge Plascencia
Tadd Schwartz
Don and Michele King Soffer
Israel Kreps
Christine Barney
Toni Randolph, in honor of Susana Ibarguen
Alfred and Rosie Sanchez
Jose Valdes-Fauli and Shed Boren
Teresa and Lee Weintraub
Richard Yulman
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Contact editor Casey Frank at cfrank@miamiherald.com.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do the foundations have any control over what is reported?
Editorial independence has been a core value at the Miami Herald for more than 100 years. While we value the support of our funding partners, outside funders have no editorial oversight, approval or influence over the content produced by fund reporters or other members of the Miami Herald newsroom.
Q: What other news organizations have received foundation funding?
The Seattle Times launched an Education Lab years ago that is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and City University of Seattle. The Miami Herald received support from the Rockefeller Foundation to cover Puerto Rico’s recovery from Maria. The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and public media such as NPR and PBS have all accepted foundation funding.
Q: Will this effort replace the Miami Herald’s regular reporting on key issues in our community?
No, these are new positions. We will continue to cover local government and breaking news in our community and other areas.
Statement of editorial independence
Editorial independence has been a core value at the Miami Herald for more than 100 years. We strive to deliver high-impact journalism in the public interest. While we value the support and partnership of our funding partners, outside funders will not have any editorial oversight, approval or influence over the content produced by funded journalists or other members of the Miami Herald newsroom.
This story was originally published October 14, 2019 at 2:48 PM.