FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 25, 2025
CONTACT:
Chris Kazlauskas
chrisk@pa-news.org
(717) 703-3025
Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation announces partnership with Blue Engine Collaborative and Google News Initiative
Stronger local news for a stronger commonwealth
HARRISBURG, Pa, – The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation announces a partnership with Blue Engine Collaborative and Google News Initiative to form the GNI State News Sustainability Accelerator in Pennsylvania.
Blue Engine’s team of coaches and subject matter experts – representing newsroom leadership, revenue strategists, product innovators, community builders – have firsthand experience in launching news organizations, leading major transformations, growing engaged audiences, and raising millions in revenue to support the work.
Starting Aug. 28, news organizations from across the commonwealth will get the coaching, tools and support they need to deepen their connection with the communities they serve, strengthen and diversify the revenue that sustains their work, sharpen their products and storytelling to meet audience needs, and build the systems and skills to grow for the long term.
Tim Griggs, founder and CEO of Blue Engine Collaborative, noted the importance a strong press fosters flourishing communities and a healthy democracy. “There’s never been a more important time to ensure the solvency and long-term independence of local news,” said Griggs. “Communities can’t thrive without trusted information, and news organizations can’t thrive without the right systems and foundations to sustain their work for the long haul — like resilient leadership, sharp products, and strong businesses.”
The following Pennsylvania newsrooms and news industry organizations are the first 11 participants:
- Butler Eagle
- Lancaster Farming
- Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg
- Chestnut Hill Local, Philadelphia
- The Daily Collegian, Penn State University
- Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre
- Public Source, Pittsburgh
- Bucks County Herald, Doylestown
- Williamsport Sun-Gazette
- Meadville Tribune
- MANSI Media, Harrisburg (a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Assication)
“PNA is thrilled to work in partnership with Blue Engine Collaborative and the Google News Initiative to make the News Sustainability Accelerator Lab available to news organizations across the commonwealth,” said Bill Cotter, PNA president and CEO. “We are excited and grateful to GNI and Blue Engine that MANSI Media has been selected to participate in this incredible opportunity to gain insight and experience in creating new revenue possibilities and reaching new audiences for our clients and media partners.”
Funded by the Google News Initiative and designed and led by Blue Engine Collaborative, the GNI State News Sustainability Accelerators are made possible through the dedication and deep local knowledge of four extraordinary state partners: COLab, the Colorado News Collaborative; New Jersey Civic Information Consortium; NC (North Carolina) Local; and Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
This program is about more than short-term wins. It’s about giving local newsrooms the foundation to serve communities across Pennsylvania for years to come. Visit the new Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation website at pnafoundation.org.
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation’s mission is to support the sustainability of local news through philanthropy and fundraising, training and recognition of professional and student journalists.