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North State Journal Launches Nonprofit News Foundation to Support Independent Journalism
RALEIGH, March 18, 2025 —
North State Journal, North Carolina’s only statewide newspaper, has launched the North State Journal News Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting independent journalism and increasing access to fact-based news content for community newspapers across North Carolina and beyond.
“In an era where information is fragmented and public trust in the media is at all-time lows, the North State Journal News Foundation will help ensure high-quality journalism remains accessible from Murphy to Manteo,” said North State Journal founder and publisher Neal Robbins. “With the News Foundation we can expand our reach, helping other print newspaper outlets fully inform their readers through in-depth reporting, high-quality photography and well-written features.”
A Mission to Elevate the Conversation
The North State Journal News Foundation will focus on providing high-quality journalism for use by print newspapers across North Carolina. The Foundation will produce and distribute in-depth news coverage, investigative reporting, sports coverage, photography, features and civic education resources to inform and empower the public. The organization will seek tax-exempt status with the IRS.
The seasoned team of
NC Capitol Strategies will lead the North State Journal Foundation’s official launch and fundraising campaign.
“In today’s evolving media landscape, it is essential to have a dedicated organization committed to sustaining independent journalism,” said Dan Forest, partner with NC Capitol Strategies. “The North State Journal News Foundation is the ideal mechanism to bring our whole state into the conversation.”
The Foundation will launch several key initiatives, which will be announced in the coming weeks. An online jobs portal is now available at
northstatejournal.org/jobs/ for interested reporters, editors and photographers.
Anna Scott Marsh Barefoot of NC Capitol Strategies will lead the fundraising for the Foundation. “I am excited to be a part of this innovation in news gathering which will allow more newspapers to provide important statewide news,” said Barefoot. “We will be hosting events across the state to educate business and community leaders about the benefits of partnering with the North State Journal News Foundation.”
Why the North State Journal News Foundation?
The North State Journal was founded to provide North Carolinians meaningful, in-depth journalism to elevate the conversation. Now the North State Journal Foundation builds on that legacy of straightforward, thoughtful reporting to help readers understand North Carolina’s growing cultural and political significance. “The Foundation will invigorate local newspapers with content that readers actually want,” said Robbins. “I am thrilled to be working with Dan, Anna Scott and the rest of our great team on this project.”
A Commitment to North Carolina’s newspapers
As part of its mission, the North State Journal News Foundation will:
- Produce and distribute fact-based journalism that informs the public on significant local, regional and statewide issues.
- Provide access to articles, graphics and photography to print newspapers in North Carolina that print at least weekly, have paid circulation and have been in print for at least one year.
- Partner with local and regional newspapers to provide high-quality reporting that strengthens North Carolina’s media ecosystem at no cost to the newspapers.
The Foundation will be supported through public contributions and grants, allowing it to provide independent journalism as a public service to North Carolina’s print newspapers.
How to Support the Foundation
The North State Journal News Foundation welcomes support from individuals, businesses and organizations that share its mission of strengthening journalism, public education and the print format. Donations to the Foundation will help fund high-impact reporting, investigative journalism and broad sports and features coverage that will benefit readers and community newspapers across North Carolina.
About the North State Journal News Foundation:
The North State Journal News Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing independent, fact-based journalism in North Carolina. The Foundation provides public interest reporting, investigative journalism and educational resources to inform and empower citizens.
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