2023 Impact Report

A report on our work to support solutions for the next era of local news in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and nationwide.

Andrea Lawful-Sanders at an Every Voice, Every Vote candidate forum. Photo by Zamani Feelings

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to share The Lenfest Institute’s 2023 Impact Report. The report, titled “Local Journalism & American Democracy,” profiles our work to help support the next era of local news in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and across the nation.

Read the 2023 Impact Report

Here are some highlights:

Philadelphians went to the polls to elect the city’s 100th mayor with more access to the candidates and their policies thanks to Every Voice, Every Vote, the coalition of over 70 media and community organizations led by The Lenfest Institute and co-funded by the William Penn Foundation, the Knight Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal, and several individual donors. We will continue this vital work in 2024-2025, as well as help other cities replicate our model.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, the largest American newspaper under nonprofit ownership, continued its progress toward a sustainable, digital-first, community-centered future. The Institute and over 3,000 individual donors supported this transformation with investments in investigative news, product development, newsroom diversity, digital subscription marketing, and more.

The Institute deepened its support for Spotlight PA, the Harrisburg-based newsroom that shares its coverage with more than 100 news organizations throughout the Commonwealth free of charge.

We convened news leaders nationally to address the sustainability challenges facing our industry. With over 3,000 members, The Lenfest Institute’s Communities of Practice allow news professionals to connect with their peers. The Beyond Print program supports local newspapers reducing their reliance on print and moving to a sustainable digital future.

2024 will be an especially critical year for our American democracy and the press that protects and serves it. We’re looking forward to our continued work together.

With thanks,

Jim Friedlich

Executive Director & CEO

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

Read the full report