Celebrating Local News Day: Announcing Press Forward Kansas City

Local News Day is a nationwide moment that recognizes the vital role local news plays in our communities. Health Forward Foundation has long championed local news, and we’re marking the inaugural celebration by announcing the launch of Press Forward KC.

Introducing Press Forward Kansas City

Press Forward is a nationwide network with local chapters working to reimagine and strengthen local news at a critical time. By bringing together funders, newsrooms, and partners, it expands resources for independent, high-quality local news that no single organization could achieve alone.

Health Forward is proud to have partnered with this growing movement to bring it to our region. Press Forward KC is the first philanthropic effort in the city dedicated to strengthening the local media ecosystem — not one newsroom at a time, but across the Kansas City region.

A New Model for Philanthropic Investment

Traditional funding models tend to support individual outlets in isolation. Press Forward KC takes a different approach. Rather than directing resources to single newsrooms, the initiative prioritizes cross-organizational collaboration, shared infrastructure such as administrative functions, technology, etc., and long-term capacity building.

In practice, this means investing in technology platforms, audience engagement tools, and joint reporting initiatives that multiple newsrooms can use — reducing costs and multiplying impact across the ecosystem. Through pilot projects, research, and coordinated efforts, Press Forward KC helps news organizations work more effectively together, reach wider audiences, and make better use of available resources.

The goal is straightforward: invest in what benefits the many, and build a stronger, more resilient future for local news in Kansas City.

Why Local News Matters

Local news does more than deliver information. It connects neighbors, holds leaders accountable, and equips residents with the context they need to make informed decisions about elections, schools, safety and community priorities. In this way, local news functions as a civic good — as essential to a healthy democracy as public infrastructure.

The public understands this. Ninety percent of Americans believe local news is critical for building strong communities and keeping the powerful accountable. Yet despite this broad recognition, local newsrooms continue to shrink. Kansas City alone has lost roughly half its working journalists over the past eight years.

How to Get Involved

Together, we need to elevate awareness and appreciation for the role local news plays in our civic life. Whether you represent a business, nonprofit, or are an individual influencer, everyone can contribute. Even small actions — such as contributions, subscriptions, or advocacy efforts — are vital in ensuring that trustworthy, unbiased local information remains available to all.

Here are a few meaningful ways to support this work:

• Share a local story that resonates with you on social media and tag #LocalNewsDay
• Subscribe to or support local newsrooms making an impact in your community
• Reach out to Press Forward KC by contract Chris Leonard at leonard.christopher@gmail.com to learn how you can contribute

We are grateful to our partners who recognize the importance of this moment and are willing to invest in sustaining local news for generations to come.