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Endowment Campaign to end Dec. 31, 2009, Knight will match donations through end of year

ASNE Foundation has announced that the ASNE Journalism for a New Age Endowment Campaign will effectively end Dec. 31, 2009. Publicly launched two years ago with a $2.5 million matching challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the campaign had a fundraising goal of $6.25 million. Since then, ASNE has raised $786,000: $471,600 from members, news organizations, and foundations and $314,400 from the Knight Challenge Grant match.

ASNE Foundation has announced that the ASNE Journalism for a New Age Endowment Campaign will effectively end Dec. 31, 2009. Publicly launched two years ago with a $2.5 million matching challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the campaign had a fundraising goal of $6.25 million. Since then, ASNE has raised $786,000: $471,600 from members, news organizations, and foundations and $314,400 from the Knight Challenge Grant match.

The economic headwinds faced by the campaign came during a period when ASNE was at the forefront of several important First Amendment battles. Notably, improvements to the federal Freedom of Information Act became law and a federal shield law for reporters moved closer to reality. ASNE is also a leader in the quest to assure that quality journalism thrives as the news business is reshaped by structural change.

The Society remains committed to vigorous initiatives on both the First Amendment and future of journalism fronts. Thus, through 2009, ASNE will continue putting forth its best efforts to raise additional support for the campaign. The Knight Foundation will match $1,125,000 in campaign donations made in 2009, at a 2:3 ratio ($2 for every $3 ASNE raises). Reaching this goal will add $1,875,000 to the endowment.

“It was unfortunate that this major fundraising endeavor, the first in ASNE Foundation's history, coincided with an unprecedented decline in ad revenues exacerbated by the national economic recession,” ASNE Foundation president Edward Seaton said. “Nevertheless, the original purpose behind the campaign remains as strong as ever: to fortify resources for ASNE's leadership of American journalism, and maintain the independent voice of editors, now and into the future.

“We are grateful to the Knight Foundation for its leadership in this effort,” Seaton said. “Over the years, no organization has been more supportive of the work of ASNE.”

All campaign donations are and will be invested in the ASNE Foundation endowment. The matching Knight funds, also endowed, will be used to support Sunshine Week, an ASNE-led national initiative to increase public awareness about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

ASNE is an organization that includes directing editors of daily newspapers throughout the Americas. ASNE changed its name in April 2009 to the American Society of News Editors and approved broadening its membership to editors of online news providers and academic leaders. Founded in 1922, as the American Society of Newspaper Editors, ASNE is active in a number of areas of interest to top editors with priorities on improving freedom of information, diversity, readership and credibility of newspapers.

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