Arizona Media Association + Arizona Local News Foundation

PHOENIX (September 2, 2025) The Arizona Local News Foundation and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University are launching a first-of-its-kind partnership to strengthen local education journalism across the state.

Beginning in Fall 2025, the Cronkite School will join the Arizona Community Collaborative and hire three professional Investigative journalists in residence who will be dedicated to reporting on issues critical to Arizona, including education solutions.

These journalists will bolster the work of local newsrooms statewide and support a growing network of education-focused reporters funded by the Arizona Local News Foundation. The journalists at Cronkite will collaborate with 15 education solutions journalists by sharing data and resources, strengthening education coverage and impact. Cronkite faculty and staff will be available to offer expert commentary and background, helping to further amplify coverage of Arizona’s education landscape.

This announcement builds on the Foundation’s recent milestone: 15 local newsrooms across Arizona have been awarded multi-year funding to support new reporting positions focused exclusively on education solutions journalism.

Thanks to more than $2 million in philanthropy raised for this initiative, each partner newsroom is bringing on a dedicated journalist to advance public understanding and drive conversation about educational access and innovation.

“This new partnership reflects our commitment to reshape Arizona’s community dialogue through journalism that informs, inspires, and improves educational opportunity at all levels,” said Chris Kline, President and CEO of the Arizona Media Association and Arizona Local News Foundation.

All stories produced by these journalists are shared freely with newsrooms across the state. Cronkite faculty and staff will also be available to provide expert commentary and background to help amplify coverage of Arizona’s education landscape.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Arizona Local News Foundation through the launch of The Beam,” said Battinto Batts, dean of the Cronkite School. “A mission of our teaching hospital is to serve communities and to learn the importance of working in tandem with like-minded journalists and organizations. This relationship is a key example of that, and I look forward to what we will produce together.”

The Beam is a new investigative newsroom housed within the Howard Center and focused on producing in-depth reporting on issues that matter to Arizona communities.

The Cronkite investigative journalist positions are made possible by a $5.7 million grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation. More details about newsroom access to this reporting will be shared when the content becomes available.

The Arizona Local News Foundation exists to connect communities with more local news and information that drives our state forward. Backed by 400 local media brands that are part of the Arizona Media Association and overseen by its own independent board of directors, the Foundation funds programs that ensure information is more accessible and impactful in every Arizona community.