Arizona Media Association + Arizona Local News Foundation

The Arizona Media Association and its partner Arizona Local News Foundation are collectively on track to invest nearly $4 million in support for our local media community over the next 12 months. It’s a dramatic and record-breaking swell of support at what we know is an absolutely critical time.

Here are the five places we plan to focus the most attention:

LOCAL MEDIA RECRUITMENT 

Paid Internships
Alongside the Arizona Local News Foundation, our Association has committed to fully fund nearly 60 paid internships this year at local media brands. By year’s end, we plan to invest $200,000 to help brands finance the cost with an end goal to inspire new Arizona careers.

Media Job Board
We maintain the state’s largest job board for local media opportunities. It’s one-stop shopping for any career in Arizona local media. All members that operate local media companies have access to post new positions to this job board and the Association will be investing marketing dollars this year to market the board to job seekers. Post your jobs here:  https://azmedia.org/jobs/

Career Fairs
Our Association will cover all costs in 2025 for members to participate in career fairs with Arizona’s three state universities. This usually includes access to booth space and management of all logistics to keep it simple. While we will send out stand-alone notes about each fair, you can email ama@azmedia.org to get more information right now.

Scholarships + Media Workshops Access
Before year’s end, our Association plans to financially supports $75,000 worth of college scholarships and local media training programs at each of Arizona’s state universities. Starting this spring, we also plan to connect the scholarship recipients with all AMA members for future internships or new job opportunities. We need to close the circle on career development!

LOCAL MEDIA & DATA + TRAINING 

Annual Arizona Media Study
Our Association commissions the state’s only annual research study to track media consumption habits across Arizona. This $40,000 study covers traditional and digital platforms, looks at advertising trends and dives into trust in news. The 2025 study goes into the field this month. All members will get access to the full report + demographics once it is released in April.

Media Lists, Legal Guides and Best Practices
Our AMA already provides access to the state’s most comprehensive list of media contacts for hundreds of local brands. Later this year, we’ll begin sharing out Arizona-specific legal guides for topics like marijuana, artificial intelligence, public notices, advertising rules, freelance lists, agency contacts and more.

Training Programs
All radio and TV members will again have access to free inspection programs that are designed to train members on how to ensure FCC compliance. We also plan to host events throughout the year aimed at helping ensure all members have access to support for evolving technology or topic expertise.

LOCAL NEWS PRESERVATION + COMMUNITY SUPPORT 

Arizona Local News Foundation
Our Arizona Local News Foundation is only about 15 months old – but we’re already moving mountains! The Foundation exists to connect communities with more local news and information to drive our state forward. Earlier this month, we announced a multi-million-dollar Arizona Community Collaborative to reshape the conversation around Arizona education. This includes funding to help hire 15 new journalists in Arizona and dramatically expand public service messaging. Expect more funding opportunities and news throughout 2025!

LOCAL MEDIA CONNECTION

Industry Awards and Recognition
The Arizona Media Association organizes events throughout the year to recognize the best of our local media community. We’ll host a re-branded Icon Lunch in April to recognizes outstanding career service in Arizona local media. This includes 2025 recipients for the Arizona Media Hall of Fame, our new Lifetime Service Award and a special Chairman’s Award to recognize key community figures. Later this year, we’ll also be looking at how to rebuild an awards/contesting event to showcase Arizona media’s best work.

Real-Time Communication
The Arizona media landscape continues to change quickly. We compile and share this monthly email newsletter with key updates, new opportunities and yellow flags that need to be shared. We also send updates as warranted to all members as issues require more urgency.

LOCAL MEDIA ADVOCACY

Arizona Lobbying + Relationships
Our Association fully funds the only lobbyist for Arizona local media at the state legislature, proactively advocating for new solutions that can support local media and fight back against any legislation that may impact the industry. This support will include Arizona legislative events later this spring where we ensure all members can meet with our state’s legislative leaders to build new bridges in Arizona + a legislative newsletter that provides updates during Arizona legislative season.

DC Lobbying + Relationships
We partner with national print, digital and broadcast media organizations to support our Arizona local media advocacy mission in Washington DC. That will include at least two trips this year led by delegations from Arizona’s local media community to meet with our Arizona members of Congress and build support for common causes that support local media.

Legal Support Services
For all of 2025, we will again have a day-to-day media business lawyer on retainer for free access to basic legal questions. We’re also keeping a sizable fund set aside for any membership-wide legal defense needs. Broadcast members will again get free access to our FCC lawyer and support for both emergency alert system needs and tower help. Newspaper members will again get free access to support and programming that navigates the complex public notice world in Arizona.

HERE WE GO 2025! 

Even with these five focus areas, we know we need to stay nimble as an Arizona Media Association during this tough economic climate. Thanks to leadership support from a large and diverse board of directors from the Arizona local media community, we’re ready to adjust.

With support from 350 local media brands across Arizona, we’re poised to make big moves as an association and coalition.