The Bucks County Beacon is among nearly 50 independent newsrooms across the nation named to participate in a pilot program sponsored by the Associated Press Fund for Journalism (APFJ).
“Local newsrooms are on the frontlines telling the stories that matter most to their audiences, yet often they lack the resources to do so effectively. Fact-based, independent journalism is the backbone of engaged communities and informed civic discourse,” said APFJ CEO Rachel White in a press release. “This pilot program is a critical first step in our mission to close that gap, ensuring that state and local newsrooms have the tools they need to keep the public informed on stories and issues that wouldn’t otherwise receive coverage.”
Participating newsroom benefits include having access to the AP’s state and national reporting and photos, as well as guidance on localizing significant stories and/or data sets. APFJ is a charitable program founded in 2024 by the AP to support local public service reporting and its accessibility. The program is also supported by the Google News Initiative.
Emily Smith, owner and publisher of the Bucks County Beacon, said being selected for the pilot program is high praise, and validation of the Beacon’s work. These program benefits provide a “tremendous opportunity for us.”
Smith said acknowledgement and support from the AP, a world-renown news organization founded in 1846 and with 59 Pulitzer Prizes to its name, “recognizes the crucial role we play in serving our community with fact-based, independent journalism.”
“Being associated with a globally respected news organization like the AP, and the other members of the pilot program, will strengthen our credibility within the community and with potential funders and partners,” Smith said.
Cyril Mychalejko, editor of Bucks County Beacon, said AP’s previous news sharing platform was a benefit during the 2024 election cycle – and he’s excited to participate in the new program along with colleague publications across the country.
Smith said AP’s election-related coverage “was an invaluable resource for us for the last quarter of 2024 – including live election results.”
“Politics and democracy reporting have been the Bucks County Beacon’s two most important beats and our priority since I became editor. What this partnership with the AP does is it allows us to add depth and breadth to our coverage … [and to] excel in meeting our mission as a media outlet,” said Mychalejko.
He added that he is honored that the Beacon joins the company of “so many amazing publications, like Arizona Luminaria, Enlace Latino NC, Honolulu Civil Beat, Mississippi Free Press, Spotlight PA, The Haitian Times, and the VT Digger – just to name a few.”
