Support (and Funds) to Cover Democracy Differently

The Advancing Democracy program — led by Hearken, Trusting News, Good Conflict and the Solutions Journalism Network — has helped dozens of newsrooms around the U.S. change the way they cover politics, policy and civic life. Together, we’ve helped them pivot away from candidate- or personality-focused coverage and toward the priorities and information needs of their communities.

The program has also yielded a self-paced online course, titled “A Better Way to Cover Civic Life.” Any journalist anywhere can take it for free, and more than 60 have completed it already. You’re welcome to join them. And if you’re in a newsroom looking to make a similar shift, we want to sweeten the pot.

Up to 20 U.S. newsrooms can join the Strengthen Trust, Engagement & Solutions Cohort. The course will teach you how to build engagement, transparency and solutions reporting into your work. As part of the cohort, you’ll also receive coaching and check-ins along the way. Then, once you’ve finished, you’ll be eligible for a grant from the Advancing Democracy Innovation Fund, with up to $4,000 available for your newsroom’s project.

Don’t wait until midterm elections loom to start planning. Let the Advancing Democracy team help you strategize now.