The Institute's Mission
The Institute’s focus is to help sustain journalism in rural communities, through information, expertise, training, outreach and other programs.
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IRJ to participate at 2026 Kiplinger fellowship event on saving local news
Professor Benjy Hamm, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism, will participate as a speaker and mentor at the 2026 Kiplinger “Saving Local News: A Practical Guide” fellowship weekend for professional journalists on May 11-14 at the E.W. Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.
IRJ collaborates with stakeholders to help Appalachian news outlets
The Institute for Rural Journalism, in collaboration with Press Forward Appalachia and the Rural News Fund, will provide advice and support for eight news organizations awarded capital and resource investment awards of up to $100,000 each. IRJ will help awardees build a foundation that expands news coverage in underserved areas and news deserts.
The Mountain Citizen of Inez, Ky., wins the 2025 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism
A scrappy little newspaper that has fought for more than 30 years for clean water and open government in its Appalachian county is the winner of the 2025 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism.