The Knight Foundation has granted $1.9 million to Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
The three-year grant will promote innovation in local TV news. New programming will focus on key areas: experimenting in television news broadcast formats, digital storytelling and leadership.
“This partnership with the Cronkite School will support innovation in local television news and support television newsroom leaders focused on driving change,” said Karen Rundlet, program director for journalism at Knight Foundation.
The Cronkite School will act as a testing ground for new initiatives in commercial newsrooms.
The program is being modeled after the Knight-Lenfest Newsroom Initiative, a hands-on program focused on driving digital transformation in newsrooms.
A full-time faculty member will be hired to oversee the program. The Knight Foundation has helped establish some of ASU’s signature programs, providing more than $10 million in support.