LAist Awarded $2.4 Million Grant to Bolster Local Journalism in Los Angeles.

Local news coverage is under threat in many cities, but a $2.4 million grant to LAist — the parent of news/talk “LAist” KPCC Los Angeles (89.3) and podcast studio LAist Studios — will help solidify coverage in the L.A. market. The money, from a trio of foundations, will be disbursed during the next five years as part of the L.A. Local News Initiative. The public media organization says the funds will allow it to significantly increase its region-wide accountability journalism.

The announcement comes just months after LAist became the latest public media station to offer a voluntary buyout to employees as it struggles to meet budget deficits. It said in May that it was facing a budget shortfall of $4 million to $5 million over the next two years.

The grant is made possible through support from the L.A Local News Initiative, a collaboration between media and philanthropy leaders in Los Angeles. The effort is funded by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, the Spiegel Family Fund, and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. This investment is part of a larger $15 million effort by the L.A. Local News Initiative to increase access to quality, independent local journalism. Organized by local civic leaders and the American Journalism Project, organizers say the L.A. Local News Initiative will help increase the overall volume of journalism available to L.A. residents, ensuring that communities across the region have access to the vital information they need.

“We are thrilled and deeply grateful for this grant from the L.A. Local News Initiative, which will not only empower LAist to expand our coverage but also foster even greater collaboration with our partners,” said Alejandra Santamaria, President and CEO of LAist. “This support will enable us to increase the depth of our accountability journalism, ensuring that more Angelenos have access to the stories that matter and impact their lives.”

LAist says the funding will allow it to scale up its reporting capacity, devote more reporters to serve as watchdogs for powerful institutions and people, and further strengthen its partnerships with local media outlets and universities. The expansion of this collaborative approach will contribute to a more comprehensive and inclusive media ecosystem across L.A., bringing more journalism to more people.

This support comes at a crucial time for local news, which has been facing significant challenges. Since 2005, California has lost one-third of its newspapers, according to a 2023 Northwestern Medill School of Journalism report. And the number of journalists in the state has dropped by 68%. While many news organizations have turned to digital formats to adapt, they continue to face challenges in expanding readership and securing steady revenue streams.