Supporting Local News and Democracy

Clean Yield’s Partnership with the American Journalism Project 

“Over the last two decades, more than one-third of American newspapers have shuttered. On average, we lose two more every week. And it matters. Studies show that when people in communities lose a local paper, they are less likely to vote or participate in public life, and they become more polarized.”

— Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project

At Clean Yield, we believe that access to reliable, unbiased, and factual local news is one of the most pressing issues facing our communities and our nation. The positive ripple effects from a community having a reliable, local newsroom are clear, as are the damaging results when a community loses access to factual news about where they live.

The American Journalism Project (AJP) is the first venture philanthropy organization investing in developing local, nonprofit newsrooms and publications. Since it began operating in 2019, AJP has now invested in and supported 50-plus local, digital news organizations in more than 30 states across the country. We are proud to announce that Clean Yield will provide an annual $20,000 donation to support the American Journalism Project for the next three years. This philanthropic contribution will be leveraged to further AJP’s investments in local journalism in support of preserving our democracy, increasing civic engagement, and depolarizing communities.

“From the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to ongoing litigation involving major outlets like The New York Times, the need for sustainable, independent journalism has never been more urgent,” says Elizabeth Glenshaw, Partner and Portfolio Manager. “As a firm that aligns finances and values, we believe that both advocacy and monetary support are necessary to meet this need.”

We at Clean Yield have been impressed by the achievements AJP has already realized. Its investment model of funding to build capacity for local, digital news publications to grow sustainably resonates with our firm’s mission to build resilience and a brighter future through impact investing.

“As a Certified B Corporation and Vermont benefit corporation, mission-aligned practices alongside philanthropic contributions are built into our business model,” says Kofi Kodua, Managing Director of Research. “Our team decided that access to local news providing regional and political updates, as well as sharing diverse perspectives from community members, forms a critical foundation for informed advocacy, civic engagement, mutual understanding, and community-building. This is one of the most important issues of our time that we can help to address.”

How the American Journalism Project Supports Democracy Through Local News

The AJP invests in the business capacity of digital newsrooms, enabling them to grow sustainably, and provides personalized coaching and access to training on best practices. The organization describes its grantees as independent, nonprofit news organizations that hold the powerful accountable, combat disinformation, and deepen civic participation in their communities.

“A thrilling new generation of nonprofit news organizations is changing the way we sustain community journalism in this country. We’re testing, refining, and funding new local news models,“ says Sarabeth Berman, CEO of AJP.

One of these local news sites is in our own backyard: Vermont’s own VTDigger, an independent digital news organization covering issues of statewide interest as a project of the Vermont Journalism Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. AJP is partnering with VTDigger on initiatives to strengthen infrastructure and expand capacity to meet Vermont’s local news needs.

“We will keep going until every community has sustainable and trustworthy local news. It is not inevitable that we become more disconnected or ill-informed. Americans will actively use and support local news if they have the opportunity,” says Berman.

We encourage you to join us in learning more and supporting the AJP. As our partnership develops in the coming years, we are excited to bring opportunities for our clients and audience to learn more about how to participate in this critical work and understand the value of local journalism in supporting and protecting our nation’s democracy.

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