The headlines don’t make for comfortable reading. By some estimates, two American newspapers are closing down every week. Those news organizations that survive have to do more with less. With fewer reporters and editors, they struggle to keep up with the news, much less allocate resources to the in-depth features or investigative projects that local communities really need. And the journalists, however enthusiastic or experienced, find themselves stretched ever thinner. We can help.

We’re a team of former Wall Street Journal reporters and editors, no longer affiliated with the Journal but independently organized as nonprofit Pro News Coaches, intent upon offering local news organizations nationwide the assistance they need to get the job done, in whatever way works for them. We offer initially pro bono coaching or mentoring, editing assistance, access to workshops or seminars and help finding time to develop and implement plans for bigger and more ambitious local coverage.

We have pilot projects under way at a handful of newsrooms around the country, including the Current in Lafayette, La.; the Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire; and the Jackson Hole News & Guide in Wyoming. But to formalize what we’re doing and reach more newsrooms, we’ll need your help.

Please donate to Pro News Coaches via Local Media Foundation. Contributions will help pay for creation of a website and other promotional materials, liability insurance for our pro bono editors and coaches, travel expenses for them to visit local newsrooms and administrative costs related to setup paperwork.

Pro News Coaches offers editing, coaching, mentoring, and workshop services to journalists working in local newsrooms. Donations to Local Media Foundation for this project are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions. Please consult a tax advisor for details. The program is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.

Pro News Coaches

Supporting local newsrooms, one story at at time