OUR VISION
FORJ envisions a future where every Oregon community is served by strong, independent local journalism supported by sustainable business practices, modern tools, and a locally rooted workforce. We believe a statewide rural and small-town civic information system that is resilient and locally driven strengthens democracy, deepens public trust, and ensures that every person has the agency to shape their future in the place they call home.
FORJ exists to:
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Strengthen and sustain independent, rural, small‑town, and emerging local news organizations.
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Build the infrastructure, workforce, and shared systems needed for a resilient rural and small-town news ecosystem.
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Provide capacity‑building support to publishers, develop journalism talent pipelines, and lead collaborative reporting initiatives.
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Serve as a statewide connector, convener, and catalyst for a future-ready civic information system serving Oregon’s rural and small-town communities.
Across the U.S., more than two newspapers disappear each week, while roughly 60% of digital news startups fail within five years.
Oregon can choose a different trajectory—leading the nation by strengthening independent publisher resilience, reducing startup fragility, and building the conditions for long-term sustainability.
PENELOPE MUSE ABERNATHY
FORJ Board of Directors Member
and leading national researcher on news deserts
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
Communities are strongest when they have access to credible, local reporting. Rebuilding Oregon’s civic information system depends on sustained, long-term investment in the infrastructure that makes local reporting possible.
Here are the outcomes of our work:
Informed communities
​Credible local journalism helps communities stay informed, understand public decisions, and maintain trust in government. When local news weakens people lose visibility, engage less, and believe misinformation.
Essential civic infrastructure
Local journalism is essential civic infrastructure—just like schools, parks, roads, water and electricity. Communities cannot function without trusted, accurate, place-based information.
Preventing news deserts
Rural and small‑town communities face the greatest risk of losing access to news, weakening civic trust, public accountability, and community connection.
A revived news ecosystem
FORJ is reversing the decline of local news by rebuilding the systems, talent, and capacity needed for a sustainable, community‑centered local news ecosystem.
