Knight Foundation

✨NEW REPORT✨ Ten years ago, five foundations asked themselves a fundamental question: Could investments in civic assets connect us to each other, improve well-being and rebuild trust? A decade of work in cities across the U.S. has provided an answer: communities that invest in public spaces with intention can connect people, rebuild trust and strengthen economic prosperity. Learn more by reading Reimagining the Civic Commons newest report: Public Space for the Common Good. https://lnkd.in/gDrnWY44 Knight Foundation The Kresge Foundation William Penn Foundation Alexa Bush Anand Sharma Kyle Kutuchief Lilly W. Jazmine D. Shawn McCaney Carol Coletta Dana Bourland, AICP Ryan Whalen Sam Gill Lynn Ross Benjamin de la Peña Chantel R. Jennifer Patrick David Gould

$5 million invested. 29 recipients. 29 ideas that will make a difference in communities across the country. Earlier this year, we reintroduced the Knight Cities Challenge, putting out a call for bold ideas that will strengthen communities and bring people together. Today, meet the recipients. The projects we selected to invest in run the gamut, from preserving Detroit's musical legacy at the Blue Bird Inn to reconnecting St. Paul with the Mississippi River. These projects are grasping opportunities for positive change. While the 29 projects are unique, they share a common goal: to tackle local challenges that will positively impact Knight communities. Get to know each of the Knight Cities Challenge recipients: https://lnkd.in/gXz23Hf9

Young people believe in free speech. But belief alone does not mean they feel free to speak. New reports from Knight Foundation and Ipsos reveal a consistent gap between the freedoms young people value and the freedom they experience: • 91% of high school students say protecting free speech is important to American democracy, while just 19% say they always feel comfortable speaking freely in class. • 88% of young adults say protecting free speech is important to democracy, while only 32% believe it is secure today. Understanding how young people experience free expression reveals the values and concerns of a generation that is beginning to find its voice in a society where they’re increasingly unsure they can use it. Explore both reports here: https://lnkd.in/edceF7Dn

Local public media stations help keep communities informed and connected. More than a year after the loss of federal funding, the next phase of the Public Media Bridge Fund is focused on continuing to help stations build long-term sustainability. Today, Knight Foundation is committing $10 million over three years to support the Bridge Fund's work helping stations strengthen operations, diversify revenue and build regional partnerships. This work can help preserve, and in some cases expand, local content and community engagement. Hear more from Maribel Perez Wadsworth and Tim Isgitt in The Associated Press! https://lnkd.in/egMbK3pC

Young people believe in free speech. But belief alone does not mean they feel free to speak. New reports from Knight Foundation and Ipsos reveal a consistent gap between the freedoms young people value and the freedom they experience: • 91% of high school students say protecting free speech is important to American democracy, while just 19% say they always feel comfortable speaking freely in class. • 88% of young adults say protecting free speech is important to democracy, while only 32% believe it is secure today. Understanding how young people experience free expression reveals the values and concerns of a generation that is beginning to find its voice in a society where they’re increasingly unsure they can use it. Explore both reports here: https://lnkd.in/edceF7Dn

What happens when an organization loses confidence in the very thing its audience values most? In a conversation with Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt describes how cutting costs at the expense of people, quality and experience can create a cycle of decline—or, as he puts it, a “death loop.” His lesson for bookstores also resonated with the journalism leaders in the room: Strong institutions must continue investing in the core work that gives audiences a reason to return. Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eJRq5TPh

“There is no democracy without journalism.” – Scott Pelley, journalist and author. Pelley spoke today at the Press Forward Summit about press freedom, the impact of media mergers and the future of local news. In a wide-ranging conversation with Knight Foundation's Maribel Perez Wadsworth, the former “60 Minutes” correspondent also talked about his firing from CBS, the newest season of the show where he reported for decades, and what makes him hopeful: the 35 students he teaches at Columbia University’s journalism school. “They are on fire,” he said.

Recent court cases, security incidents, and public calls for action have generated enormous interest in whether and how the government decides to regulate technology companies. A new Knight Foundation - NORC at the University of Chicago survey offers fresh public opinion data, showing that there is bipartisan demand for action on a variety of technology and AI issues: - 63% of Americans say elected officials and candidates pay too little attention to issues dealing with tech and AI companies, a sentiment shared by majorities of across party lines by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. - 9 in 10 Americans are worried about both deceptive AI-generated content and about AI being used to violate their privacy. - 89% want government to set clear rules on how tech companies use personal data. You can read the full report at the link in the comments.

We believe funding local news is an investment in stronger communities. That’s why, with support from the Knight Foundation and with help from Press Forward, Poynter developed Ethically Funding Local News, a free, self-directed course designed to help funders invest in local journalism with greater confidence. Know a funder who could benefit? Share this free course with them: https://lnkd.in/eC_Ns-cb

How much do you know about the First Amendment? In honor of Constitution Day, the Pew-Knight Initiative created a First Amendment quiz. Just 9% of U.S. adults answered all the knowledge questions correctly. Want to see where you rank? Give it a spin and let us know your results in the comments. https://lnkd.in/efAa3AtA Pew Research Center