As part of our Exploring Issues of Justice Through Media initiative, the foundation recently made grants to two newspapers: The Los Angeles Times, to expand its coverage of immigration issues and ethnic communities; and to The Washington Post, to strengthen its reporting on government accountability. As newspapers struggle to survive in a rapidly changing landscape for journalism, many outlets are exploring innovative partnerships and sources of funding. These grants represent Ford’s commitment to making sure that complicated issues get the deep, broad and nuanced coverage they deserve.

Jonathan Barzilay, director of the foundation’s work in Education, Creativity and Free Expression, appeared on WNYC’s “On the Media” to discuss the grants. He emphasized that the newspapers receiving the funding have complete editorial control over what they cover. “Our interest is in supporting principled journalistic coverage of complex social issues. How that is done is entirely up to the newsrooms,” Barzilay said. The grants are given in the interest of “sustaining the vital role of serious journalism in our democracy.”

More information

• Read and listen to the the full story and browse the transcript
• Learn more about the Washington Post’s first hire under the grant—Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and editor Mike Sallah
• Read about how grants to the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post will help preserve and expand high-quality journalism