Funding Awards

Press Forward Northern Michigan supports local news operations through funding to support efforts that spark innovation, build trust, or expand access to local news and information.

Through our funding opportunity, we aim to support small investments in news operations that make a meaningful difference in the ability of news outlets to do their work.

In May 2026, we awarded the first $50,000 in funding to the following partners:

• Boyne Citizen, to expand coverage and engagement in Boyne Falls, Walloon Lake, Charlevoix County and surrounding townships.

• Elk Rapids News, to expand coverage through a summer intern and expand distribution to the Williamsburg area.

• Glen Arbor Sun and Betsie Current, to collaborate with high school- and college-aged students to produce compelling and topical local news in their rural communities through new journalism mediums that their peers access and trust.

• Sable Points Media, to support governmental and educational news coverage in Mason and Oceana Counties.

• WUWU Community Radio, to support a pilot project - Civic Access & Media Democracy Project - designed to build durable rural media infrastructure, democratize journalistic skills, and expand access to local civic information in Benzie County.

• WCMU Public Media, to support expanding multimedia storytelling skills and coverage through the purchase of needed equipment.