American Journalism Project invests $1.8M in Spotlight PA to expand community-based news across Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON — July 24, 2025 — The American Journalism Project today announced a new, $1.8 million investment in Spotlight PA, a leading nonprofit newsroom serving Pennsylvania. This investment will support the organization in building the infrastructure needed to launch new community-based newsrooms, including its new Berks County newsroom, while laying the foundation for future expansion across the state.
Since receiving its initial investment from the American Journalism Project in 2021, Spotlight PA has more than doubled its revenue and expanded its newsroom significantly, growing from a $1.7 million operation with 12 journalists to a $4 million organization with 21 newsroom staff in less than three years. The funding will fuel Spotlight PA’s expansion into new communities while bolstering the operational and revenue-building core capacity needed to sustain its statewide network over time.
“Spotlight PA has delivered exceptional results — growing its newsroom, increasing revenue, and deepening its impact across the state,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project. “We’ve seen firsthand what Spotlight PA can achieve, and we believe their model offers valuable lessons for the rest of the country.”
Spotlight PA’s reporting has led to lasting change across Pennsylvania — bringing hidden issues to light, safeguarding public resources and helping residents better understand the systems that affect their lives. In just five years, its work has helped recover more than $20 million in public funds, prompted 35 policy changes, and led to 14 new pieces of legislation.
The Berks County newsroom is Spotlight PA’s second local community newsroom, following its first in State College. Developed through an extensive local news needs study conducted with the Berks County Community Foundation and supported by local funders, the newsroom is focusing on government accountability, social issues, Spanish-language coverage, and civic engagement — key areas identified by the community as high-priority. Looking ahead, Spotlight PA plans to expand its model to additional Pennsylvania communities, starting with Lehigh Valley, where there is already strong local philanthropic interest.
“Across Pennsylvania, we are seeing in real-time communities embrace this unique opportunity to reclaim the news and restore it to its core purpose, in service to the people,” said Christopher Baxter, CEO and president of Spotlight PA. “AJP’s vital investments are a recognition of the sustained and growing support of folks all across the commonwealth investing in better journalism for a better future.”
AJP’s investment will be distributed over three years, with funding supporting both central operations and local expansion efforts. This includes additional staffing in finance, membership and major giving to strengthen Spotlight PA’s revenue base, as well as local fundraising and outreach roles to establish and grow community newsrooms in Berks County and future locations.
The American Journalism Project’s investment reflects its commitment to supporting sustainable models for nonprofit local news, ensuring that more communities have access to high-quality, independent journalism. Since its launch in 2019, AJP has invested $70.7 million in 50 nonprofit local news organizations across the country.
About the American Journalism Project
The American Journalism Project is a venture philanthropy dedicated to local news. We believe civic journalism is an essential public good, and are reimagining its future by building a model to finance and sustain the local news our communities require. We invest in local nonprofit news organizations to build their revenue and business operations, partner with communities to launch new organizations, and mentor leaders as they grow and sustain their newsrooms. To learn more about the American Journalism Project, visit theajp.org.
About Spotlight PA
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom dedicated to high-quality investigative and public-service journalism about the Pennsylvania state government and urgent statewide issues. We were founded as a bold, collaborative answer to the rapid and significant decline of corporate-owned, for-profit media in our state, resulting in drastically reduced coverage of issues vital to Pennsylvanians. We seek to return journalism in our state to its fundamental role as a check and balance on the powerful, especially politicians and policy makers, and a public resource to empower residents to take action and drive change. Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest — not profit motives. That’s why we don’t charge for access, and share our journalism with 125+ newsrooms in the state for republication at no cost. To learn more about Spotlight PA, visit spotlightpa.org.
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Media contact: Roshni Neslage, Head of Communications, American Journalism Project, media@theajp.org, 954-526-1565