McCormick Foundation Awards More Than $230,000 For Journalism Training on Quality News Content
Five organizations awarded grants to conduct professional workshops on reporting sophisticated, timely issues
Chicago, IL, April 27 2010
The McCormick Foundation has awarded $234,000 to five organizations to host McCormick Foundation’s Specialized Reporting Institutes (SRI) in 2010. Each organization was awarded up to $50,000 to conduct intensive journalism workshops that provide subject-specific training for journalists. This initiative bolsters the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that citizens have access to quality news content. The selection process was highly competitive, with more than 40 universities and non-profit organizations submitting proposals.
Due to widespread newsroom layoffs and deep cutbacks in media training budgets, there is a growing appetite for specialized training in the news industry. At the same time, many hot-button issues have become increasingly complex and sophisticated.
“We are excited to partner with each of the 2010 SRI awardees,” said Clark Bell, director, McCormick Foundation Journalism Program. “Their proven expertise in the journalism field will not only help strengthen the quality and depth of journalism, but also arms journalists with an expanded source network, valuable resource materials, and a list of solid story ideas.”
The five grant winners, listed below, reflect some of the most engaging and relevant issues currently covered by journalists. The following organizations were awarded funding:
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McCormick Foundation Specialized Reporting Institute
Grants
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1.
Poynter Institute for Media Studies (St. Petersburg, Florida), www.Poynter.org
To host a SRI on budget-conscious methods
to enhance coverage of government.
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$50,000
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2.
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University
of Texas (Austin),
www.utexas.edu
To host a SRI on Cross-boarder coverage of U.S.-Mexico
drug trafficking.
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$50,000
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3.
The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business Journalism at
Arizona State University (Phoenix),
www.businessjournalism.org
To host a SRI
on covering the green
economy.
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$50,000
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4.
The Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College (in partnership with the University of
New Mexico in Albuquerque),
www.jjay.cuny.edu
To host a SRI that provides
journalists who live on or near tribal lands with tools and insight to better cover
violent crime on Indian reservations.
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$50,000
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5.
Citizen Advocacy Center (Elmhurst, Illinois),
www.citizenadvocacycenter.org
To host a SRI for a diverse group of 20 Illinois
journalists to discuss legislative redistricting, which is especially timely with
the 2010 Census.
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$34,000
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Total Grants:
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$234,000
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About the McCormick Foundation
The McCormick Foundation is committed to strengthening our free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country. Through its grantmaking programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, museums, and civic outreach programs, the Foundation helps build a more active and engaged citizenry. It 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 McCormick Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charities, with more than $1 billion in assets. For more information visit
www.McCormickFoundation.org.