• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, September 4, 2024

Associated Press is making an effort to fight news deserts in the U.S. It has named Rachel White as the first executive director of its new Associated Press Foundation for Journalism (APFJ). 

White will lead and work to secure funds for the new organization, the goal of which is to support local and state journalism throughout the news ecosystem, AP says.

That’s a tall order, given conditions in the business. But AP’s philanthropic development team has raised over $70 million dollars to support nonpartisan news on health, democracy, climate, religion, artificial intelligence and other coverage areas – to extend the reach of fact-based journalism. 

The Foundation for Journalism will focus on deepening coverage of issues of public interest while providing services that help state and local outlets. 

Previously, White was executive vice president at The Guardian and president of theguardian.org, a nonprofit group she founded to support independent journalism.

“Rachel has a proven track record of working with philanthropies to support journalism and improve public access to trusted news,” says Daisy Veerasingham, APFJ chair and AP president and CEO. “We are excited to have her on board at a time when expanding the reach of factual, nonpartisan reporting has never been more urgent.” 

“Throughout my career, I have seen first-hand the power of trusted, fact-based journalism and its role in critically informing the public,” White says. “Philanthropic funding plays such an essential role in ensuring the future of accessible and comprehensive news coverage."

One can only wish them luck.