Planet Princeton receives a $5,000 grant from the Facebook Journalism Project to expand local coronavirus coverage

The Facebook Journalism Project, in partnership with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association, has awarded 50 North American local newsrooms grants of $5,000 to help them cover some of the unexpected costs associated with covering the coronavirus crisis in their communities. Planet Princeton was one of 50 local newsrooms across the United States and Canada to be chosen for the first round of funding.

Planet Princeton will use the grant money for two initiatives. First, I will hire reporters to cover the untold stories of the Latino immigrant community in the Princeton area in order to better understand how these members of the community are coping with job losses, food insecurity, and other issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reporters will also translate stories into Spanish that are especially relevant to the community.

I will also use the grant to hire people to manage the Princeton Cares initiative, a new initiative that will match volunteers with area residents who need help. I hope to expand this effort beyond Princeton if possible and to partner with area nonprofits to connect people with resources.

I am grateful to the Facebook Journalism Project for funding these initiatives, and to readers for the crucial support that has made Planet Princeton’s reporting possible during this difficult time. I couldn’t do it without you, and I hope you know how grateful I am. Local journalism matters now more than ever.

-Krystal