To achieve our vision of a place where all Wichitans thrive and belong, residents need to be connected so that they can work together and support each other’s wellbeing. They need to be able to share information and take collective and coordinated action that spurs sustained growth in our community.
We’re laying the groundwork for an engaged community through local news collaboration, experimentation and transformation. Evolving from Focus Forward, we strive to create a more informed city by strengthening Wichita’s local news ecosystem.
Collaboration
Experimentation
Transformation
Informed &
Engaged Community
• Experiment and evolve
• Flexible funding matters
• Harness the power of local voices
• Leverage national partnerships to bring a worldview
Wichita Journalism Collaborative
Ten media groups collaborate to push the boundaries of traditional delivery platforms. Since launching, partners have published stories covering COVID-19 and mental health in Wichita.
Sent 20 cohorts of journalists to 8 field-specific conferences
Partnered with Solutions Journalism Network to launch the Wichita Journalism Collaborative
Created a gathering space for journalists
Tested data-driven storytelling that engages users who are blind and visually impaired
Discovered delivery methods for the Spanish-speaking population
Engaged 6 studies to guide community engagement
Co-partnered with American Journalism Project to develop The Beacon, a regional network of nonprofit newsrooms across Kansas and Missouri, which launched The Wichita Beacon
We work to fulfill our mission by investing in people and ideas to spark change – local news is one of those ideas. After three years of work with Focus Forward, we’re taking the next natural step to continue to inform and engage the community.
Nope. The news ecosystem is shrinking, changing and polarized. The role of philanthropy in working through these challenges is more prominent today than ever before. As a funder, WF acknowledges and respects that we don’t shape news coverage, story selection or other editorial decisions within the newsrooms we are supporting.
We're not kidding. The Foundation has committed at least three years of staff time and additional resources to strengthen the local news ecosystem.
