Robert R. McCormick Foundation Invests $5 Million in News Literacy, Press Freedoms and Quality Journalism

Since 1993, the Foundation has invested more than $100 million to strengthen journalism essential to informed and engaged citizenry

CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Robert R. McCormick Foundation board of directors has approved nearly $5 million in new grants over the next two years to 22 organizations committed to strengthening quality journalism, promoting news literacy and protecting press freedoms. These grants underscore the continuing importance of journalism in preserving a strong democracy.

The Foundation's grants reflect an increased emphasis on educating news consumers on how to navigate and filter the explosion of news and media they confront in the digital age. Today's citizens—especially youth—are immersed in a digital world, overwhelmed by a barrage of information, and often unable to distinguish fact from rumor. In an era when facts are scarce and opinions are abundant, having the tools to discern news from infotainment and fact from opinion assists students in collecting, analyzing and producing credible information. The Foundation is committed to investing in programs, such as news literacy, that educate youth on how to use critical thinking skills to better judge the reliability and credibility of news reports and news sources.

"Given the digital information overload, citizens of a democracy are challenged to sort credible information from opinion, rumor, and simple untruths," said David Hiller, President and CEO, Robert R. McCormick Foundation. "We believe that news literacy training, youth journalism training and stronger civics education are effective tools to build critical thinking skills and generate vigorous debate so vital in maintaining a strong democracy."

"The Foundation has increased support of stand-alone news literacy programs, while also infusing news literacy principles into youth journalism, teacher training and community news projects," said Clark Bell, Journalism Program director, Robert R. McCormick Foundation.  "Our goals are to increase the quality of news and public understanding, and make Chicago a model for news literacy programs that could be replicated nationally."

In line with its new strategic focus on audience and improving news literacy skills among youth, the Foundation awarded $330,000 to Stony Brook University to develop a web-based curriculum clearinghouse, design a standardized assessment tool, award mini-grants to news literacy innovators and expand its teacher training programs to Chicago. Another $300,000 was granted to the News Literacy Project to implement news literacy curriculum in two dozen Chicago schools and community organizations.

To further our commitment to provide quality news content, the Foundation invests in specialized reporting training for journalists and has developed programs in watchdog reporting, military and national security reporting, and community news. Among the grants, the Foundation has awarded a two-year $225,000 grant to the Investigative News Network for collaborative reporting projects and to provide business development and technical support to a network of 55 watchdog reporting organizations.

As part of its focus on press freedoms, the Foundation is supporting efforts to improve government transparency and access to public information, both in Illinois and nationally. For example, the Foundation granted $250,000 over two years to the Better Government Association (BGA) to broaden the scope and impact of its investigative journalism program. The grant will also help kick off the BGA's Rescuing Illinois Project that will concentrate on reforming the Illinois public pension system and reduce waste in Illinois government.

The full list of recently approved grants includes:

Grants Supporting Quality Content

1. Investigative News Network, Washington, D.C.
$225,000 over two years
For joint reporting projects, training seminars and support services for the 55-member network

2. Investigating Reporting Workshop, Washington, D.C.
$75,000
For support of an evaluation project of investigative news

3. Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc., Columbia, MO
$90,000 over 18 months
To expand a watchdog reporting and training program to Midwestern newsrooms

4. Poynter Institute for Media Studies, St. Petersburg, FL
$710,000 over two years
For administration and evaluation of the Specialized Reporting Institutes

5. Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO
$150,000
For support of the Aspen Security Forum

6. Center for Media and Security, Millwood, NY
$200,000 over two years
For general operating support

7. Northwestern Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, IL
$1,000,000 over two years
For continued support of the National Security Journalism Initiative

8. American University, Washington, D.C.
$250,000 over two years
For continued support of the New Media Women Entrepreneurs program

9. Chicago Public Media., Chicago, IL
$150,000 over two years
To partner with media that serve youth and community audiences

TOTAL - $ 2,850,000

Grants Supporting Youth Media and News Literacy

10. City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Chicago, IL
$50,000
For the development of news, digital and civic literacy curriculum for students of the City Colleges

11. Common Sense Media, San Francisco, CA
$210,000 over two years
To continue to grow a news and digital literacy program in Chicago

12. News Literacy Project, Washington, D.C.
$300,000 over two years
To implement news literacy curriculum in two dozen Chicago schools and community organizations

13. Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Albany, NY
$330,000 over two years
For news literacy resources, training, evaluation and mini-grants to innovative teachers

14. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
$50,000
For the development of a news literacy assessment instrument and related research

15. Free Spirit Media, Chicago, IL
$150,000
To support the expansion of its journalism programs and help develop Chicago's youth journalism field

16. Youth News Services Los Angeles Bureau, Los Angeles, CA
$75,000
For general support of youth journalism training

17. National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL
$75,000
For support of Difusion Media's youth journalism program

18. Street-Level Youth Media, Chicago, IL
$90,000
For continued support of Street-Level's Multimedia Journalism Program and one-time support for a new community media center

19. Youth Communications New York Center, Inc., New York, NY
$50,000
To support New York Youth Communication's journalism program

TOTAL - $1,380,000

Grants Supporting Press Freedoms

20. Better Government Association, Chicago, IL
$250,000 over two years
To build the capacity of civic journalism

21. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Arlington, VA
$210,000 over two years
For continued support of the McCormick Legal Fellowship and regional training in First Amendment rights

22. Student Press Law Center, Arlington, VA
$150,000 over two years
For continued support of the McCormick Publication Fellowship

TOTAL - $610,000
GRAND TOTAL - $4,840,000

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is one of the nation's largest foundations, with more than $1 billion in assets. For more information, please visit www.McCormickFoundation.org.

SOURCE Robert R. McCormick Foundation