In California, CalMatters recognized that as the state press corps shrank, coverage of complex legislative debates and decisions grew increasingly thin, leaving the public with fewer ways to understand how policy was being shaped. To address this gap, the newsroom and its partners at CalPoly San Luis Obispo created Digital Democracy, a tool that uses AI to surface legislative data insights in formats reporters and citizens can use. CalMatters partnered with Google News Initiative (GNI) with the goal of expanding the tool’s coverage to additional states across the U.S. Neil Chase, CEO of CalMatters, emphasized that GNI plays a catalytic role in the industry by providing resources, expertise, and connections that enable local and nonprofit publishers to innovate and extend resource capacity to deliver critical accountability reporting at scale.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

By participating in the GNI JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, CalMatters was able to scale Digital Democracy, an AI-enabled tool that mines legislative data for updates, trends, and anomalies, and translates them into tips for reporters, from California to Hawaii. The program also fostered global peer connections that introduced CalMatters to a technical partner who helped resolve a major hurdle in speaker identification, paving the way for broader national expansion and helping address accountability gaps across the country.

CalMatters participated in a separate GNI program specifically with the goal of deepening digital newsletter engagement. As a result of this program and complementary internal initiatives, CalMatters tripled its newsletter offerings, achieved a 59% increase in subscribers, and increased paid memberships by 65%.

ANF recognized that local news publishers were rethinking how to connect with audiences and deliver community-centric journalism digitally. This included deploying a multi-platform strategy to reach audiences, applying lessons learned from the “creator economy” to build loyalty, and adopting AI tools to streamline workflows. In partnership with AAN, NAHP, and NNPA, ANF launched the Fund for Equity and Local News (FELN) to stabilize and accelerate innovation for BIPOC and other locally owned newsrooms. Ellen Meany, Executive Director at ANF, said the GNI partnership has helped FELN launch programs like Transformation Tech, which connects news publishers with critical coaching and programming that create safe spaces for news publishers to experiment and innovate.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

Supported by GNI investments, FELN launched Transformation Tech, an intensive lab that helped 240 established local news publishers engage audiences and generate sustainable digital revenue. Across six quarterly cohorts running through late 2024, each program participant received a grant, one-on-one coaching, and targeted training sessions to build a Revenue Transformation Plan and implement a high-impact item on their digital roadmap.

As a result, news publishers upgraded their websites, launched and monetized newsletters, tested AI tools, developed new digital products, and acquired audience funnel tools. For example, La Raza, a Spanish-language news outlet in Chicago, added display advertising to its newsletter, generating an additional $1,600 per month in new revenue within the first quarter of the program. It also launched a targeted social media campaign that tripled its newsletter subscriber base and saw an overall 113% increase in digital ad sales.

INN found that in the wake of local emergencies, such as natural disasters, newsroom capacity is often hampered by resource and operational challenges at the exact moment when community demand for information peaks. In partnership with Google News Initiative (GNI), INN launched the Rapid Response Natural Disaster Reporting Fund to provide just-in-time support for local outlets covering natural disasters.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

Through the Rapid Response Natural Disaster Reporting Fund, grants were distributed to newsrooms responding to crises such as the floods in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas and the California wildfires. In most cases, grants were distributed within 72 hours, enabling outlets to continue delivering accurate, real-time information to their communities.

The funds have covered essential costs like overtime pay, freelance journalists, and other critical supplies for journalists working around the clock. For example, in the first days of the January 2025 California wildfires, INN member newsroom, LA Public Press, used disaster relief funding to pay for safety gear, freelance support, and licensed fire photo images. This support kept reporters out of toxic burn areas and produced coverage later cited in state and federal legislative analyses.

Karen Rundlet, CEO of INN, explained that GNI and INN have worked on other programs to strengthen the business operations of member newsrooms. These have equipped newsrooms with training, audits, and resources to support them in implementing audience development and reader revenue strategies. Beyond supporting the GNI/INN Rapid Response Natural Disaster Reporting Fund, Rundlet described GNI as a “learning partner” that “exposes INN members to the future of information, education, journalism, reporting.”

Nationally recognized as one of the country’s leading Black newspapers, The Sacramento Observer has built deep roots by investing in journalism coverage and community experiences. Under President and Publisher Larry Lee, the newsroom has scaled its impact and reached new Black communities through market expansion, digital innovation, and partnerships.

Lee described Google News Initiative (GNI) as “a smart, creative, technology-proficient partner in the room trying to help,” emphasizing the combination of investment, coaching, and tools that helped it modernize and scale, while staying anchored in their mission.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

Resources received through a GNI-enabled program has allowed The Sacramento Observer to launch a new digital newsroom in Stockton that will serve San Joaquin County’s Black community. Lee noted that without this support, the Observer would likely be contracting rather than expanding its reach.

GNI has also supported mission-aligned collaboratives that The Sacramento Observer participates in, amplifying impact beyond its organization. GNI funded the digital infrastructure required to launch Word in Black, an ongoing collaboration of ten Black publishers, which has grown to include six journalists, nearly 50,000 newsletter subscribers, and $5 million in revenue within just a few years. Each participating news publisher also saw measurable growth in audience and site engagement as a result of improved content, increasing reader revenue potential. GNI also funded a development resource for Solving Sacramento, a collaborative focused on community-driven reporting and growing sustainable revenue.

NOTUS identified a critical need to expand the reach of Washington D.C.-based accountability reporting to help local communities across the country effectively monitor their representatives and the government decisions shaping their lives. With support from Google News Initiative (GNI), NOTUS and AJI launched the Washington Bureau Initiative, pairing D.C.-based journalists with local outlets to jointly produce and distribute relevant coverage and reach voters back home.

Reflecting on the Washington Bureau Initiative, Kevin Grant, Director of Development at NOTUS, described it as “a really terrific formula,” noting that it allows NOTUS to continue serving its core D.C. audience while also delivering significant value to local partners. AJI Fellows describe the program as both highly rewarding and energizing, fueling their professional growth as the next generation of political journalists.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

With GNI’s support, the Washington Bureau Initiative launched with eight partners in five states, then expanded to 15 partners in 12 states by the end of the first year. Reporting produced as a result of this initiative, posted on both NOTUS.com and participating local outlet news sites, has led to increased web traffic and engagement from key audiences. For example, Times of San Diego reported that NOTUS coverage drove more than 14,000 additional page views in just four months. In Maine, a local partner new to the program was able to restore D.C. coverage after a 15-year statewide gap, raising $10k in local support in 24 hours. This demonstrated impact has prompted participating news organizations to request that the program expand to include additional regional peers.

Beyond the Washington Bureau Initiative, Tim Grieve, Editor in Chief of NOTUS, noted that GNI’s partnership affirms that “this work is important and worth investing in.”

Shaw Media has been on a 10+ year digital innovation journey to build a sustainable business that balances the needs of their long-time, print-loyal subscribers and newer digital-first audiences. Tom Shaw, Shaw Media’s VP and Chief Product Officer, shared that participating in Google News Initiative (GNI) funded programs equipped their news organization to accelerate digital revenue growth and reach new audiences.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

By participating in the Family and Independent Media Sustainability (FIMS) Lab, Shaw Media gained access to expert coaching that enabled them to revamp their digital advertising and audience growth strategies, resulting in a 13x increase in digital revenue since 2015.

More recently, Shaw Media received critical support through another GNI-backed program focused on helping news publishers with geographic expansion. This enabled Shaw Media to relaunch three acquired local papers that had recently closed in northern Illinois within just one month. In addition to avoiding a news desert, this market expansion helped Shaw Media generate additional revenue and instantly garner community trust.

Participation in GNI supported programs has directly enabled Shaw Media to sustain local reporting in existing and new markets, setting the foundation for business growth for years to come.

LION recognized the critical need for independent local newsrooms to build operational resilience and diversify revenue in face of shifting audience preferences and ongoing news industry evolution. With support from Google News Initiative (GNI), LION launched a series of signature programs that combine tools, coaching, and grants to help news publishers strengthen business fundamentals and create pathways to long-term sustainability.

Chris Krewson, Executive Director of LION, credits GNI for thought partnership and enabling rapid iteration and scale of their programs, providing resources that small publishers may not be able to access on their own. Overall, Krewson sees GNI as a consistent ally whose support strengthens both LION’s capacity to support members and the broader local news ecosystem.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

The Sustainability Audits program helps publishers assess strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities while providing recommendations and targeted grants to implement solutions. With backing from GNI and others, this program has become LION’s widest reaching initiative, serving 354 unique LION members between 2022 and 2024. Among participants, 93% reported a positive impact on sustainability. Burlington Buzz, a program participant based in Massachusetts, shared that the audit process offered valuable insights into previously overlooked aspects of their business. The newsroom found the experience both validating and constructive, appreciating the positive approach of the coach and the audit report which provided a tangible roadmap for enhancing the organization’s long-term sustainability.

In 2024, LION introduced Sustainability 360, extending the audits with tailored coaching on foundational needs like HR policies and workflows. The Buckeye Flame, an early participant, credited the program with enabling a critical development hire and creation of their first employee handbook. The pilot began with six newsrooms and has since expanded to serve 40 newsrooms in 2025.

Local Media Association (LMA) sought support to help local news publishers identify new revenue streams and combat increased competition for audience attention. Google News Initiative (GNI) partnership enabled LMA to launch the Lab for Journalism Funding in 2020, a six-month training program to equip and empower local newsrooms to secure philanthropic funding as a revenue source to sustain essential journalism.

According to longtime CEO Nancy Lane, the resulting Lab for Journalism Funding program has been “game-changing,” going far beyond typical training programs. GNI investments enabled LMA to hire a tenured leader to run the program and secure a team of eight best-in-class journalism fundraising expert coaches.

Google News Initiative Supported Program Outcomes

As a result of sustained investments from GNI, the Lab for Journalism Funding has provided 194 local news publishers access to deep, one-on-one coaching to help them build pitch decks, write grant applications, and engage funders. The program has run five national cohorts, five state-level cohorts, and two advanced fundraising cohorts. Collectively, the publishers that participated raised $35M in philanthropic funding.

For example, by enrolling in the Lab for Journalism Funding, Georges Media Group in Louisiana was able to expand from three to 25 philanthropy-funded reporter positions. Specifically, NOLA.com, a newsroom part of the Georges Media Group, was able to secure a three-year grant as part of the Lab for Journalism Funding that more than doubled the newspapers’ investigative team and expanded the reach of coverage. Georges Media Group was also able to launch the Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, a new ten-person newsroom to support another market in Louisiana, through philanthropic funding. This success story highlights scalable lessons for sustaining local journalism and expanding audience reach.