Reveal the Truth

AND

Create Change

Independent, investigative journalism creates real, long-lasting change.

Support Independent Journalism

Overview


Independent, ethical journalism helps citizens understand society’s problems and develop meaningful solutions. Investigative reporting is critical to increasing public awareness and engagement, and provides a much-needed platform for voices that are under-represented in traditional media.

There is a desperate need to tell these stories. Traditional models of support for journalism are in decline. As a result, voices are going unheard and issues going under-reported as traditional media struggles to survive. Support for community-based journalism brings important issues to light in a way that creates dialogue and real change.

Our mission is to investigate and report on important issues impacting our local communities, give voice to the under-represented, and increase public awareness and engagement around these issues. These stories come to life in front of thousands, if not millions, of readers; we have a track record of independent, impactful, award-winning journalism.

Health
Immigration
Social Justice

Health


Health care is an important topic to engaged readers. Serious questions are facing our communities regarding health equity, mental health crises, costs and access to services. Projects will include stories on:

Health care access in underserved communities.

The struggles to run urban health care clinics.

Are law enforcement officers equipped to handle mental health disturbances and place individuals in treatment rather than jail?

What rehabilitation and life education programs exist for former gang members?

Immigration


Immigration issues are a hot national topic—but are we hearing the real story? Our immigration project will investigate topics such as:

What happens when undocumented immigrants are arrested and transferred to ICE? How does this impact families?

Why are Mexican immigrants returning to Mexico in record numbers?

When facing a crisis, such as a custody battle, divorce or ill family member, how does an undocumented immigrant navigate the legal system?

A closer look at undocumented immigrants incarcerated in county jails.

Social Justice


Economic Inequity and Social Justice are pressing topics locally and nationwide. Over the past several decades, we’ve seen a shrinking middle class and more Americans falling into poverty. At the same time, the social safety net is coming apart. Upcoming projects will include:

Investigation into the economic crisis facing middle class Americans and the implications for our communities.

How are key stakeholders addressing the issues of poverty and inequity?

What is the impact of inequality within our criminal justice system?

How does restorative justice play a role?

Focus on Poverty in California’s capital
Food Access in California
Letters to the Future

Focus on Poverty in California’s capital


A grant from California Emergency Foodlink supported independent research, reporting and distribution of articles focusing on the many faces of poverty in Sacramento, California.

Read articles

Our first generous grant

provided

ONE YEAR

of poverty coverage.

Food Access in California


A grant from the Sierra Health Foundation allowed News & Review to conduct independent research, reporting and distribution of articles in newspapers across California on the topic of California’s low rate of participation in the CalFresh (Food Stamps) program.  Stories were published in print and online by the Chico News & Review, Monterey County Weekly, North Coast Journal, Random Lengths News, Sacramento News & Review, San Diego City Beat, San Francisco Bay Guardian, San Jose Metro.

Read articles

After

the Food Access project

stories published in 2012,

$28,000,000

of new funding for

food stamps came

into Sacramento.

Letters to the Future


World leaders convened in Paris in December 2015 for the historic U.N. climate talks. Prior to the talks, Letters to the Future was conceived to ask authors, artists, scientists and others to write to future generations of their own families predicting the success or failure of the talks. This project was made possible through the generosity of the contributors. It is one of several national projects News & Review has coordinated, and it provides an example of the impact that IJF hopes to achieve.

This project published online and in 40 alternative weeklies across the country, garnering four million print readers and 11 million unique visitors online.

Letters to the Future

was seen by

15 MILLION READERS

in 2015.

Investigative reporting that matters


The Independent Journalism Fund is a non-profit and non-partisan fund that fuels independent, ethical journalism. This fund was set up in partnership with Tides and supports ongoing investigative journalism at News & Review on specific, targeted topics. Projects supported by the Independent Journalism Fund will be targeted towards Northern California and Northern Nevada, though some projects may have statewide or national components.

Tides is a foundation and nonprofit partner with nearly 40 years of experience building a world of shared prosperity and social justice. Tides accelerates the pace of social change, working with innovative partners to solve society’s toughest problems. Tides partners are at the forefront of efforts to expand equality and human rights, cultivate a sustainable environment, support healthy individuals and communities, and advance quality education. Tides manages over $130 million in annual charitable giving and grant-making, serves as fiscal sponsor of over 200 mission-aligned social ventures, and provides collaborative workspaces to over 100 social ventures in San Francisco and New York City.

The focus of the Independent Journalism Fund is on the critical issues of poverty, health and mental health issues, economic disparity, and social justice. Stories may run in Sacramento News & Review, Chico News & Review, Reno News & Review, and other publications to maximize reach.

Your support for community-based journalism helps bring important issues to light in a way that creates powerful community dialogue and a deeper understanding of the challenges we face. Our reporters investigate and report on important issues impacting our communities, give a voice to the under-represented, and increase public awareness and engagement around these issues. You can help us bring these stories to life in front of thousands, if not millions, of readers.

With your help, we can produce independent, investigative journalism that will help create real, long-lasting change.

Support Our Work


You may make a tax-deductible donation online, wire or send a check. Please make checks payable to the Tides Foundation, with “Independent Journalism Fund (Fund #2082)” in the memo line. Mail checks to

Independent Journalism Fund,
PO Box 13370
Sacramento, CA 95813

Please provide us with your contact information so we may send a receipt for tax purposes.

Donate

Contact us


Independent Journalism Fund

Fund Managers

Jeff vonKaenel, Deborah Redmond

Advisors

Melissa Daugherty, Rachel Leibrock


c/o News & Review
PO Box 13370 Sacramento, CA 95813

916.498.1234 ext 709