Local Media Association recently announced Adams Multi Media Southern Wisconsin as being among the 20 news organizations selected to participate in the 2026 national cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding.
“I have always been a strong believer in the power of journalism as a vehicle of accountability and change. I’m also well aware of the changing economic winds in our industry,” said Tim Sullivan, regional editor for AMM Southern Wisconsin, about the award. “That’s why I’m so excited to take part in a cohort that is dedicated to finding ways to ensure the health of the industry for the long haul.”
The lab will help the 20 local news organizations develop and execute strategies to fund essential local journalism via philanthropy. The six-month intensive program runs from August through February 2026.
Besides AMM, the remaining 19 local news organizations include:
Black Belt News Network, Cascadia Media Company, The Commercial Dispatch, Detroit PBS, Empower Media Exchange, Houston Chronicle, The Kansas City Defender, KCAW Raven Radio, LNP Media Group, LOOKOUT News, Mainstreet Daily News, Napa Valley Publishing, NotiVisión Georgia, The Rapidian, El Tiempo Latino, Times Union, Voice Media Group (Dallas Observer, Denver Westword, Miami New Times, Phoenix New Times), WRAL News and WXXI Public Media.
The 2026 national cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding is made possible through support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Since its launch in 2020, the lab has helped nearly 200 news organizations raise more than $40 million to support local journalism, with sustained support from Google News Initiative. Newsrooms in the new cohort will learn best practices documented in LMA’s industry report Pathways to Philanthropy and its 2024 report Sustaining Philanthropy for Journalism.
“These newsrooms have demonstrated a commitment to community service journalism,” said Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer at LMA. “We look forward to helping them develop philanthropy as part of their overall strategy to sustain essential local journalism.”
The lab will help local news organizations develop and execute comprehensive programs to secure philanthropic support for their essential local journalism that is responsive to community priorities. Each publisher in the cohorts will set a fundraising goal, receive customized coaching and create and pitch a journalism project to be funded through philanthropy. Newsrooms will also gather for an in-person training and have the chance to compete for stipends to kick-start their projects.
The 20 newsrooms accepted into the 2026 cohort include a diverse set of organizations in small and large markets across the country, including family-owned outlets, public media and publishers who focus on traditionally underserved audiences. The cohort includes three news organizations serving Knight communities and seven newsrooms hosting journalists or interns from Report for America, as part of LMA’s partnership with Report Local. These news outlets share a commitment to civic journalism.
Read more about the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding program and recipients here
