Press Forward Blue Grass Receives $125,000 to Strengthen Local News Policy in Kentucky

Press Forward Blue Grass, an initiative of Blue Grass Community Foundation, received a $125,000 grant from Press Forward as part of a $1.5 million national investment to help states develop public policy solutions that strengthen local news.

Kentucky is one of eight states selected for funding, joining Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

The grant supports the Press Forward Blue Grass Policy Task Force, a coalition of journalists, publishers, civic leaders, policy experts, community foundations and advocates advancing policy solutions for local news. The task force is examining sustainable funding models, public awareness campaigns, workforce development and civic information initiatives. Its work comes as Kentucky communities face major policy decisions around artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, land use and economic development. Local journalism plays a critical role in helping residents understand these issues and meaningfully participate in civic life.

“Policy decisions that affect local news ultimately affect local communities,” said Melissa Newman, Ed.D., executive director of Press Forward Blue Grass. “Local news is community infrastructure. When local news organizations disappear, communities lose an essential civic asset. If communities are expected to live with the consequences of major decisions, they should have access to the reporting necessary to participate in them.”

The grant builds on the existing work of Press Forward Blue Grass, including a journalism fellowship with Report for America, newsroom innovation grants, youth correspondent programs and place-based journalism across Kentucky.

Nationally, Press Forward has invested more than $400 million through a network of more than 40 place-based chapters.