Partnership includes launch of new webinar series, HBCU student digital project, and social media incentive program
The National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund announced today a year-long, exclusive partnership with Facebook to fund the production of a 12-month series of skill-based webinars to grow audience engagement and increase revenue for members of the nation’s oldest Black-owned media trade association. The Facebook Journalism Project grant will provide $100,000 for a series of webinars, a program to support HBCU student digital publications, and a social media incentive program.
“The NNPAF is thrilled to establish this relationship with Facebook that will help to enhance our efforts to support member publishers through their digital transformation,” said Pluria Marshall, Chairman of NNPAF. “Since 1827, we have been the voice of Black America, a history and legacy of which we are most proud. This partnership will allow our 200-plus newspaper publishers to broaden their reach and expand engagement to more readers of the Black Press.”
The Facebook Journalism Project grant will include an additional track of month webinars launched by the NNPAF last year called Business In-Sight. The training provides an introduction to the resources and tools adopted by media companies across a myriad of platforms. The Facebook webinars will focus primarily on tools to increase readership and revenue during a climate of declining print readership and advertising.
The Facebook Journalism Grant will also support the HBCU Digital Newsletter Project, scheduled to launch this year. The NNPAF will adopt junior and senior class students from three HBCUs to train them in online newsletter design and distribution to aid in more significant outreach to students, faculty, and alumnae.
A training program will be offered to incentivize publishers to adopt new publishing methods with a certificate provided upon successful completion. Participants will qualify to compete in the NNPA Fund’s new Digital Messenger Award categories underwritten by Facebook, including Best Facebook Campaign, Best Video Campaign, Best Instagram Campaign, and Best HBCU Digital Newsletter.
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About the National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund
The NNPA Fund is a 501 C(3) tax-exempt organization that has traditionally focused on professional training and encouraging excellence in the industry. Its four traditional programs include the Black Press Archives and Hall of Fame at Howard University, the A. Phillip Randolph Messenger Awards for Excellence in publishing and reporting, a summer internship program offering journalism students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at Black newspapers, and a scholarship fund providing financial assistance to college and graduate students with an interest in journalism.