Facebook Commits $5M to Local Journalists Who Use Its New Publishing Platform

Facebook will commit $5 million to local journalists who plan to start or continue their work on the platform for independent experts, journalists and writers that it introduced in March. The company said at the time that the new platform will be anchored by a free, self-publishing tool that includes “robust” styling options for creating websites and email newsletters. It will be integrated with Facebook pages, enabling the creation of new content across photos, live videos and stories. Those using the platform will also be able to create and grow communities via Facebook groups, and features will be added to Facebook to boost discovery of new content and writers, and to help content creators build direct relationship with their fans. Independent writers will also have access to insights to help them understand how their content is performing, along with monetization tools to help them build individual websites and businesses, with an initial focus on subscriptions. Newsletter platform Substack took a similar path earlier this month with the debut of its Substack Local program, which will provide $1 million in grants to local journalists to boost its local news offerings. Facebook said applications opened up Thursday (April 29) and will be accepted through May 20 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Nonprofits including the International Center for Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists will share the opportunity with their respective networks and help Facebook evaluate applications. To qualify, applicants must be independent writers who live in the U.S. Full-time writers at news publications can apply, but priority will be given to independent writers. Freelancers at news publications can also apply. Applicants must cover pubic interest local news in a defined local community. Facebook elaborated in a blog post, “We define ‘local’ as constituting a defined geographic area. The size of that geographic area will differ greatly—in rural communities, it may extend over many ZIP codes, where in an urban context, it may be a large neighborhood. We are giving applicants a wide latitude for what constitutes local journalism because that definition can vary so greatly.” The social network said it will prioritize applicants who extensively cover Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or other audiences of color, and when the location or community to be covered is not served by an existing media company. Facebook wrote, “By focusing on diversity, we can better ensure that communities of color are served by quality local journalism.” Applicants chosen to participate will be notified by June, and they will receive “further consideration” to enter into agreements with Facebook which include: Collaboration with a partner manager on Facebook’s news partnership team.A multiyear licensing fee to give writers time to build a relationship with their audience.Monetization tools, starting with subscriptions.Access to experts, information and services designed to make it easier to start and build an independent business. In return, they must commit to: Regularly publish written, public-interest journalism focused on a local community using Facebook’s tools.Engage with their audience through Facebook tools such as groups, live discussions and other features that help them connect more deeply with their community.Provide feedback to the Facebook team on their experience so that it can improve its products and services. Facebook vice president of global news partnerships Campbell Brown wrote in the blog post, “We are giving precedence to areas and communities that are not currently served by an existing journalism entity. Whether rural, suburban or urban, we know there are locations that do not have sufficient local journalism. We also know that certain groups, particularly communities of color, may not have their information needs met by existing journalism organizations in some places and will prioritize writers who will cover underserved communities.”