Nov. 18, 2025

Here are some of the documents behind today’s announcement of a fund to support livestream and other digital support for the Forum.

July 28: An e-mail outlining the interest of the NC Local News Lab Fund in offering financial support of the Forum’s work.

July 28: Steve Johnston’s expression of interest, but also a request for clarification of the ways in which the Fund could support a group without nonprofit status.

Aug. 21: Johnston and fellow Forum facilitator Ché Abdullah collaborated on an application on the Lab Fund’s website form and submitted it, along with a rundown of 2024 expenses.

Oct. 22: Lab Fund’s approval of a grant.

Oct. 25: Johnston prepared a budget outlining a way to stretch the grant across a three-year period beginning January 2026.

Nov. 6: Lab Fund’s announcement of its fall cycle of grants totaling $590,000 to 23 local news and community organizations. Mecklenburg recipients include Davidson Local, QCityMetro, Charlotte Ledger’s Election Hub and the Charlotte Post. The summer cycle included a two-year, $100,000 grant to WFAE.

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Forum co-convenors Jackie Edwards Walton and Laura McClettie asked that all questions about the Lab Fund initiative be addressed to Steve Johnston, by e-mail.

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