AP Fund for Journalism Receives Microsoft Funding for Washington State News

Local newsrooms often serve as the bedrock of the communities they cover, providing the trusted, locally relevant reporting people need to understand the issues shaping their daily lives. Microsoft is proud to support the AP Fund for Journalism in expanding access to election coverage and resources for newsrooms across Washington state, helping more communities access timely, fact-based information when it matters most.

The State of Washington is big and diverse — something I saw firsthand in newsrooms from Seattle and Tacoma along the Pacific to the TriCities in the east. This Microsoft support for local election news coverage via The AP Fund for Journalism will accelerate efforts to inform and strengthen voters in the State. The Associated Press

A coalition of news organizations and university journalism programs have launched a new partnership to increase coverage of local elections throughout Florida. The collaborative, spearheaded by The Florida Trib, kicks off with coverage for the August 18 primary and will make hundreds of free stories available to voters across the state. https://lnkd.in/enHj-DJZ

KnowNews 🔍 With South Africa’s upcoming local government elections, online news platforms are increasingly a primary source of information for the public. However, accountability mechanisms within digital journalism remain limited. Concerns include media organisations altering published stories without transparency, sometimes due to political or censorship pressures. KnowNews is an open-source, easy-to-use toolkit of analytical software designed for African journalism observatories to strengthen media accountability, promote ethical reporting, and support quality journalism. Users are encouraged to make use of the KnowNews URL to verify information on news websites and ensure accuracy in reporting. VISIT : https://ow.ly/pYAq50YY62o

We're excited to announce that AP Fund for Journalism has received funding from Microsoft to strengthen local news in Washington state ahead of the 2026 midterms. Through this support, 10 local newsrooms across the state will receive trusted elections coverage, authoritative results, race calls, maps and reporting resources from The Associated Press. This partnership reflects APFJ's ongoing commitment to sustaining local journalism and expanding access to reliable, nonpartisan news across the U.S. more information: https://lnkd.in/gN-cqtyH

SciLine has launched a special project ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, and I'm proud to be helping lead the effort. "A variety of free resources will be available both on issues that are top of mind for voters—such as data centers, housing affordability, inflation—and the nuts and bolts of the elections themselves: what independent, nonpartisan research tells us about different aspects of how elections are run and their vulnerability to manipulation, fraud, and voter suppression." https://lnkd.in/ge99FNvG

Covering this story reminded me that journalism is about listening before writing. Speaking with the residents of Seven Fountains showed me how decisions about electoral boundaries can shape a community's sense of identity, representation and belonging. Their concerns went beyond politics—they were about having their voices heard and their everyday challenges recognised. As a young journalist, I'm grateful for the opportunity to tell stories that bring local perspectives into public conversations. Every interview is a reminder that good journalism starts with listening and reporting fairly. Proud to have contributed this story to Grocott's Mail. To read the story click the link: https://lnkd.in/dhDFUbDb #Journalism #LocalNews #CommunityVoices #Storytelling #Elections2026

A political lobbying firm founded by the former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson secretly pays journalists to write pieces for British newspapers that are favourable to their clients, a Guardian investigation can reveal. In a practice that appears to create a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion, lobbyists for CT Group – co-founded by the campaign strategist, Lynton Crosby – told an undercover reporter that they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories in newspapers. They offered hundreds of pounds in cash incentives to do so for a property industry client and said the deal would grant the lobbying firm increased editorial control.

Dr Akin Akingbulu- Executive Director, Centre for Media and Society, welcomed participants to the media engagement on the Osun State Governorship Election, stressing that the programme is part of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), implemented by CEMESO and IPC to strengthen the media's role in promoting credible elections. He emphasized that a credible democracy depends on a credible media and that journalists have a crucial responsibility to provide fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive election coverage. He noted that the Osun off-cycle election presents unique challenges because it will attract national attention, heighten political competition, and increase the risks of misinformation, security concerns and pressure on journalists. Drawing lessons from the recent Ekiti governorship election, he urged electoral institutions, security agencies, political actors and the media to uphold professionalism, neutrality and transparency to ensure a peaceful and credible poll. Dr Akingbulu identified four key responsibilities for the media ahead of the election: Prioritise continuous civic and voter education rather than limiting it to election day. Counter misinformation and disinformation by making fact-checking a routine newsroom practice. Ensure inclusive reporting that amplifies the voices of women, young people and persons with disabilities. Perform the media's watchdog role by holding institutions accountable while ensuring journalists' safety. Centre He concluded by encouraging journalists to use the engagement to strengthen their skills and reaffirmed that responsible, professional and ethical journalism is essential to delivering a peaceful, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.

A transparency experiment in local journalism: offer all 68 candidates in contested Hardin County races a free, equal-format election interview. Same questions per race, published in advance, archived unedited. Then publish the outreach record either way. The results so far: 38 said yes. 1 declined directly. 29 have gone silent through four emails and, for several, a text message or direct message on top. Every candidate gets a card in our Election Guide showing exactly where they stand, so voters get the full picture even when a candidate opts out. In our county seat, five sitting city council members are on the November ballot asking to keep their jobs. One has registered. Registration stays open until Friday, July 17 at 4:00 PM. The full article, with the race-by-race record: https://lnkd.in/gDVqTBvv To the local media folks in my network: how do you handle candidates who decline free, equal-format coverage? #LocalJournalism #HardinCounty #Kentucky #Elections2026 #CommunityMedia