Wyoming’s premier online nonprofit news organization WyoFile won a $20,000 INNovation grant, awarded by the Knight Foundation in partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit News. The grant will help support a statewide tour this summer to build interest and support for in-depth journalism in Wyoming.
WyoFile’s staff will hit the road and travel throughout the state to host events with potential and current readers and supporters of nonprofit in-depth journalism.
“We’re proud to be among the prestigious recipients of the INNovation Fund,” said WyoFile executive director Lorena Garcia. “This will allow our staff to pile into a bus and go town to town, and engage with Wyoming residents face-to-face. Wyoming is a big state, and we have a small staff, so it’s important for readers to get to visit with WyoFile reporters and staff and tell them what’s on their minds.”
The INNovation Fund was established with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. It supports projects proposed by nonprofit news organizations to advance the economic sustainability of their newsrooms.
The other seven winners of the Round 3 INNovation Fund are: Banyan Project ($35,000); Connecticut Health Investigative Team ($20,000); Juvenile Justice Information Exchange ($30,610); Investigative Post ($35,000); New Jersey Spotlight ($35,000); Seattle Globalist ($17,200); and West Virginia Public Broadcasting ($31,000).
Paramount to WyoFile’s continued success is raising its profile among Wyoming residents and communities. WyoFile will host public mixers that include food, beverages, entertainment and, most importantly, the opportunity to visit with staff about how WyoFile can partner with communities in in-depth journalism.
More details about the WyoFile tour will follow.
“Myself and the rest of the WyoFile staff are excited to get out and visit with our fellow Wyomingites who care deeply about this magnificent state,” said WyoFile editor-in-chief Dustin Bleizeffer. “There are a lot of challenges in Wyoming today, and a lot of great things going on to help make Wyoming even better. We rely on our readers to share with us their concerns and insights. Our job is to serve our readers and help make Wyoming the best it can be through good reporting and storytelling.”
WyoFile was launched in 2008 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2009. Its mission includes supporting Wyoming’s legacy media by providing in-depth reporting on the state’s people, places and policy through the work of veteran and highly talented journalists.
WyoFile is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, an associate member of the Wyoming Press Association, and works in collaboration with Wyoming’s legacy media, and other news organizations. WyoFile is also supported by reader donations. WyoFile is now in the midst of its annual Spring Fund Drive with a goal of raising $20,000 by the end of April.
WyoFile’s staff includes executive director Lorena Garcia, editor-in-chief Dustin Bleizeffer, capitol bureau reporter Gregory Nickerson, natural resources reporter Angus M. Thuermer Jr., web manager Jaimi Flores and business manager Guy Padgett.