Internews is delighted to support a UK initiative that will help small and local independent news publishers affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The pandemic has demonstrated the crucial importance of access to trustworthy information and independent publishers worldwide are key to providing that information – yet, like so many businesses, they face huge new challenges in carrying out that work.

The goal of the COVID 19 Emergency Fund, established by the Public Interest News Foundation, is to provide small but meaningful grants to help independent publishers keep working through the crisis and beyond. The Fund will award 20 grants of £3,000 each – a total of £60,000 – for independent publishers based in the UK.

A selection panel of experts from across the industry will review the applications and make grant decisions.

The PINF COVID-19 Emergency Fund has been launched with the support of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (JRRT), which has donated £60,000, all of which PINF is passing on to independent publishers in the form of small grants. Internews will administer the grants at no cost.

“We’re delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative. Independent news is needed now, more than ever and we must ensure its survival,” said Jodie Ginsberg, Internews CEO in Europe.

Internews established a global Rapid Response Fund in March to support small, local news organisations worldwide survive in the face of COVID-19.

(Banner photo: Asian Star community radio station in the UK. Credit: Internews)