Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle awarded $100,000 Press Forward grant
RecognitionSaving local news

Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle awarded $100,000 Press Forward grant

“This grant validates the work the Chronicle staff and journalists do every day." — Evan H. Stein

The staff of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle holds some memorable issues of the paper. From left: Senior Staff Writer David Rullo; Publisher and CEO Jim Busis; Editor Toby Tabachnick; former Senior Sales Associate Phil Durler; Senior Staff Writer Adam Reinherz  (Photo by Kim Rullo)
The staff of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle holds some memorable issues of the paper. From left: Senior Staff Writer David Rullo; Publisher and CEO Jim Busis; Editor Toby Tabachnick; former Senior Sales Associate Phil Durler; Senior Staff Writer Adam Reinherz (Photo by Kim Rullo)

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle will receive $100,000 over two years from Press Forward, a national coalition whose aim is strengthen local news.

The Chronicle is one of 205 media outlets across the country to be awarded a grant from the Press Forward foundation’s first open call for funding. The Chronicle is the only Jewish publication in the country to be awarded a Press Forward grant.

Two other media outlets in southwestern Pennsylvania received Press Forward grants: Nextpittsburgh and The Allegheny Front.

The Chronicle will receive $50,000 per year for the next two years to be used to better serve its audience.

Press Forward is “investing more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms, close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage, advance public policy that expands access to local news, and to scale the infrastructure the sector needs to thrive,” Press Forward officials said.

Press Forward Southwestern PA formed in early 2024 with the goal of unifying the local foundation community in support of journalism across southwestern Pennsylvania.

As a chapter of the national movement, Press Forward Southwestern PA convenes regional funders and stakeholders across 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania “to support local news that values collaboration, connection and community,” officials said.

The Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University convenes the chapter with The Benter Foundation; The Heinz Endowments; Henry L. Hillman Foundation; and The Pittsburgh Foundation, as well as other local foundation partners.

“Press Forward received more than 900 applications and from that group selected 205 recipients for $20 million in funding,” said Andrew Conte, managing director of the Center for Media Innovation. “We’re proud of our local grant recipients as they have shown a strong commitment to supporting local journalism in their own unique ways.”

Press Forward grant recipients had to meet the following criteria:

• Have an annual operating budget of less than $1 million.

• Be in operation since at least September 1, 2023.

• Show a commitment to editorial excellence, independence and transparency.

“We are thrilled and honored to have been recognized by Press Forward for the work we’re doing connecting our Jewish community,” said Evan H. Stein, the Chronicle’s board chair. “This grant validates the work the Chronicle staff and journalists do every day to provide compelling news, analysis and information to our readers. The philanthropic landscape in this post-pandemic economy has made fundraising more challenging than ever and we are grateful for these much needed funds to support our publication.”

The grant is “a strong recognition of the quality and the importance of what we do every day to keep the Pittsburgh Jewish community informed, engaged and connected with each other and with our other Jewish institutions,” said Jim Busis, the Chronicle’s publisher and CEO. “We thank Press Forward for recognizing the national crisis affecting all local news and for taking this first transformative step to help local news survive and thrive. We hope that this award will encourage our readers and supporters to strengthen their involvement with us.” PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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