The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, a bi-lingual statewide news organization, today announced $50,000 in support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund at The Miami Foundation. The Knight Foundation is the leading funder of journalism and media innovation in the country. FCIR also announced another $25,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
FCIR plans to use the money to enhance its data analysis capabilities.
The Knight funding is part of its Local Media Initiative, aimed at helping nonprofit news organizations establish long-term sustainability. The initiative has awarded $5 million in grants to over 25 local online news organizations that have demonstrated potential for growth.
“This investment is intended to help organizations that have shown promise develop new innovations, while adding to the momentum they have already built towards further growth and sustainability,” said Michael Maness, Knight Foundation vice president of journalism and media innovation.
FCIR intends to invest in an ambitious data studio that would work with existing media partners and civic non-profit groups to analyze information in the public interest. FCIR has previously partnered with Florida media companies, including the Miami Herald, on data projects.
“FCIR is honored to receive this grant, and will use it to broaden our reach and deepen the impact of our journalism” Tristram Korten, FCIR’s editor, said. “Our goal is to continue producing quality in-depth reporting using the most sophisticated tools available. We want to thank the Knight Foundation for supporting our mission and working with us to develop a business model that will allow us to thrive.”
The Knight Foundation’s generosity enabled FCIR to qualify for a $25,000 matching grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, a long-time supporter of FCIR. The matching grant is the last installment of a $100,000 grant EEJF awarded FCIR in 2013.
“The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation has been there for us from the very beginning,” Korten said. “And we are grateful for their continued support.”
Founded in 2010, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit, digital and bilingual investigative journalism organization that funds and produces in-depth reporting to expose waste, corruption, and miscarriages of justice. FCIR partners with print and broadcast media to publish its stories.
For more information contact us at info@fcir.org.