Pittsburgh local news awareness campaign launched

Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership have teamed up to launch a regional public awareness campaign highlighting the strength and collaboration of more than 40 news organizations across southwestern Pennsylvania, according to a news release.

The campaign — “40+ newsrooms. At Work. Every Day. For You.” — will run through May on paid social media, streaming audio and YouTube.

Press Forward “is a national coalition designed to strengthen communities by supporting local news and information,” according to the news release. “Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania convenes regional funders and stakeholders to support local news that values collaboration, connection and community across 10 counties in the region.”

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle was one of 205 media outlets — and the only Jewish outlet — across the country to be awarded a grant from the Press Forward foundation’s first open call for funding in 2024. The Chronicle received $100,000 over two years.

“Press Forward and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership make southwestern Pennsylvania better connected and more resilient to changes in our local news ecosystem,” said Andrew Conte, director of the Center for Media Innovation, which administers the Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter. By working together, he said, including on this awareness campaign, foundations and newsrooms “are making the case that Pittsburgh is not a news desert, but one with a strong, local news ecosystem.”

Jim Busis, co-chair of the PMP, and CEO and publisher of the Chronicle, agreed.

“The Pittsburgh Media Partnership strives to strengthen the local news ecosystem in our region,” Busis said. “The announced closure of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the closure of the Pittsburgh City Paper have sharpened everyone’s awareness of the crisis here in our region.

“The PMP hopes that our partnership with Press Forward to educate the public on the need for and the availability of quality local news will be a first step in strengthening the connection between local readers and news outlets,” he added. PJC

— Toby Tabachnick