Today we have the pleasure of announcing a major new commitment to foster trustworthy, sustainable local journalism serving all Coloradans.

The Colorado Media Project began last summer as a short-term, deep dive exploration of troubling trends: deep cuts at traditional news media outlets, challenges faced by the state’s digital start-ups, and unmet local news and information needs for Coloradans. Now the Colorado Media Project will continue as an ongoing advocate for our state’s public-service news organizations, rallying community support and resources to navigate an uncharted future – together.

The Gates Family Foundation, Democracy Fund, and the University of Denver’s Project X-ITE have made new commitments the Colorado Media Project. Our goal is to raise $2.5 million over three years to foster trustworthy, sustainable local journalism serving all Coloradans, and we’re more than halfway there.

For more information, please visit our relaunched Colorado Media Project website, where you’ll find today’s full announcement, a roster of our newly appointed advisory board of community leaders, and an archive of the research and insights that led us to this point. Also stay tuned to this newsletter, as well as our social channels, for ongoing updates regarding our plans for the months ahead.

To all of the journalists, academics, students, business and civic leaders, philanthropists and all community members who have joined us already in this work – thank you. Though the future of local news is still very much in flux, we look forward to the road ahead.