Pasadena Now Named First Grant Recipient of New Media Foundation

Pasadena Now announced Thursday it has become the first grant recipient from the newly-formed Pasadena Media Foundation Wednesday.

According to the group’s website, the foundation’s mission is “to build a sustainable financial future for Pasadena-area news and information organizations, which are essential for democracy to function, and to promote high-quality local journalism within the community.”

Following the grant award announcement, founder Sheryl Turner told Pasadena Now, “Local news nationwide has become a shell of its former self where vibrant local news has been replaced by mega-mergers that do not employ any reporters. Now add COVID-19 to the mix and regional journalism is about to become extinct – with a great cost to our democracy and civic engagement.”

Turner said that the Foundation was formed to support local media organizations and explore new business models for their sustainability; to protect freedom of the press, as well as promoting news literacy and connect with audiences through civic engagement and technology.

“We hope our organization will be a portal for funders and individuals to support local media,” said Turner. “Our efforts embrace for-profit and nonprofit local news entities alike”

Turner continued, “We wish to provide a counter-narrative to the nationwide loss of local media by creating new models and ventures and providing support to existing entities. Our Board’s award to Pasadena Now is the first step of our young nonprofit in helping fill the gap.”

Turner said, of awardee Pasadena Now, “(They) do such good work and really gets into the depth of some the issues, whether it’s the school district or the political scene, or the restaurants, whatever is current, (they’re) always on top of it, with good reporting and analysis. We appreciate that.”

“We feel there are several (media outlets) in town worthy of help. And this is our first effort. And we hope that other people will think it’s a good idea, too.”

Pasadena Media Foundation Board member Bishop Christopher Milton of Holy Assembly Church of God said Wednesday, “The end goal is to build up and help so that (the publication) can employ people to do what you need, arms and legs, what they need to get it done. I believe it could be advantageous to all of us, to the paper, to the community, and then to individual writers and so forth.”

According to the foundation’s website, 95 percent of all donations are to be awarded to the specific news organization or local journalism awardee.

The Foundation is not associated with Pasadena Media, which is the city of Pasadena’s cable television organization.

Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation may be made here.