WHYY News & Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.)
WHYY’s News & Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.) is a partnership between the public media outlet and local community publishers focused on serving the information needs of the diverse communities of Philadelphia. N.I.C.E. has fortified the local news ecosystem and generated stronger collaborations between content creators and their communities.
The Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund supports N.I.C.E. with a three-year $600,000 grant to accelerate its growth.
N.I.C.E. launched in 2021 with initial funding of $350,000 from the Knight-Lenfest Fund. Though it was conceived prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, its focus on mutual aid was well-timed to help address the impact of the coronavirus on Philadelphia communities by identifying, recruiting, supporting, and training local journalists and media makers who supply news and information to their neighborhoods. Since then, N.I.C.E. experienced better-than-expected enthusiasm and participation from partners. It has collaborated with multiple WHYY departments, including the newsroom, and it developed a talent pipeline that diversified and enhanced WHYY’s programming. N.I.C.E. has received recognition from local and national media.
