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Tucson Spotlight has been named a recipient of the 2025 Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona grant, awarded by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

The grant supports local news organizations committed to providing robust nonpartisan local journalism across Southern Arizona, with CFSA awarding a total of $275,000 among seven local outlets.

Spotlight will use the funding to further its mission of producing original, community-centered reporting in both English and Spanish and support new, emerging and diverse journalists.

The grant will help strengthen ongoing work through our Spanish-language platform El Foco de Tucson, and allow for expanded coverage that reflects and serves the diverse communities of Southern Arizona.

“Access to accurate news and information is one important key to a community’s health," said Nancy Sharkey, Advisory Board Chair for the Local News Initiative. "The Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona is proud to support these seven organizations that provide excellent reporting, investigative projects and analysis.”

Other 2025 grantees include Arizona Luminaria, Civic News Company, KAWC-FM, Patagonia Regional Times, Somos Tucson, and the Tucson Sentinel.

The Local News Initiative was launched in 2023 to address critical gaps in local news and increase civic engagement throughout the region. The 2025 grant total marks a $50,000 increase over the previous year, reinforcing the initiative's commitment to local journalism as a cornerstone of civic life.

“Southern Arizona now has a robust network of talented reporters working for small publications and digital outlets," Sharkey said.

As the number of local reporters and independent outlets grows, so does the region’s ability to hold institutions accountable and ensure residents have the information they need to make informed decisions.

"With this support, we can continue producing high-impact journalism that informs, empowers and reflects the people we serve, especially those who have long been overlooked by traditional media," said Tucson Spotlight co-founder Caitlin Schmidt. "This grant helps us grow our newsroom with intention, invest in our team's development and ensure that diverse, community-rooted storytelling remains at the heart of everything we do."

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please support our work with a paid subscription.