OREGON LOCAL NEWS READINESS PROJECT

In February 2026, FORJ launched the Oregon Local News Rediness Project, which includes a Statewide Independent Publisher Survey and Digital Rediness Assessment, inspired by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism’s Beyond Print Toolkit and the Beyond Print Diagnostics. The digital diagnostic tool will be designed to assess the operational and technical capacity of independent rural and small-town publishers.

In collaboration with Adam Davis of NW Opinions, Steven Howsley of Surf Analytics and OSU-Cascades, the project will produce an Oregon Independent News Sustainability Report, a practical roadmap that guides targeted capacity-building and philanthropic investment where it will have the greatest long-term impact.

Results of this project will be presented at the FORJ 2026 Annual Rural and Small-Town Journalism Conference to be held July 29-30, 2026 at Central Oregon Community College in Bend.