Three Ideas About Fixing Our Freedom of Information Laws
SECOND ROUGH DRAFT—April 27, 2023—Our freedom of information (FOI) laws are among the best tools for enterprise journalism in this country; they have fueled a broad range of excellent stories. But much of the time, the laws don’t work—they may be admirable in their original design, but are deeply flawed in their administration. As public […]
Eleven NYC Public High Schools Win Top Prizes at The Newsies
BARUCH COLLEGE—April 3, 2023—The only competition for excellence specifically in NYC public high school journalism – The Newsies at Baruch College – has announced the award program’s 2023 winners[…] Developed at Baruch, The Newsies Best in NYC Public High School Journalism Awards celebrate outstanding student journalism across nine categories, including feature writing, illustration/comics/cartoon, multimedia reporting, […]
Greenpoint Library Wins Top Prize in Culture Pass’ Citywide Library Book Display Contest
BKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY—April 3, 2023—Culture Pass, the library program created in 2018 to provide cardholders free access to cultural institutions, announced the winner today of a book display contest. Nearly 100 libraries—representing every borough—participated in the competition, designing displays for the theme The Creative City. Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center was named the grand […]
City Locks in Lifeguard Pay Bump and Bonuses as Swim Task Force Explores Solutions
THE CITY—March 28, 2023—Newer city lifeguards are getting a permanent raise — and all public pool and beach watchers could net an attendance bonus — as the Parks Department and a new multi-agency task force hope to avoid another critical shortage this summer. Pay for first and second-year lifeguards will be buoyed from $16.10 to […]
NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund Grants $510,000 to 10 Organizations Promoting Equity and Innovation in NYC’s Parks and Open Spaces
CITY PARKS FOUNDATION—March 23, 2023—City Parks Foundation is pleased to announce that the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund (NYC Green Fund) recently granted $510,000 to 10 innovative projects advancing equity and community involvement in parks and open spaces. The 2023 Systems Change grants program will provide one- and two-year-long grants in order to address […]
One Percent of the Budget for Parks? A Bargain, Says a Nonprofit
NEW YORK TIMES—March 13, 2023—How much for parks? That was the subtext of a conversation with Adam Ganser, whose answer puts him at odds with Mayor Eric Adams, and it was hardly surprising. Ganser is the executive director of New Yorkers for Parks, a nonprofit that has championed them for more than 100 years. The mayor […]
Local newspapers are on life support; banks could provide the cure they need
AMERICAN BANKER—March 10, 2023—Community news organizations are often integral to the vitality of a community. Studies, and common sense, have indicated that communities that lack good local news have less civic involvement, more corruption, higher taxes and lower voter turnout. So, isn’t it about time for the government to encourage banks to treat local news […]
Identity/Crisis Podcast
SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE—In a frenzied media cycle, Identity/Crisis delves into the big ideas behind the news from a uniquely Jewish perspective. Host Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events effecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values […]
Caring For Our Kids’ Mental Health, Jewishly [podcast]
SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE—December 21, 2022—What is the responsibility of Jewish leaders to address mental health in the Jewish community? Yehuda Kurtzer talks with Yael Kornfeld, campus social worker at Hunter College Hillel and a Jewish professional on the frontline of the mental health crisis, about the Jewish imperative to support people who are struggling to be safe and […]
Want Your Giving to Make the Most Impact? Donate to Local Media
INSIDE PHILANTHROPY—December 6, 2022—Chances are, you are thinking hard about your choices this giving season. As leaders at two New York City news organizations focused on deep, impactful and useful coverage of local communities and issues, we know that many of our donors, just like our readers, are weighing the impacts of inflation, and a […]