Raising voices for environmental and social justice!

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Problem: Independent journalism, a cornerstone of our democracy, is facing an existential crisis. The challenges are multifaceted: decreasing revenue, the dominance of social media’s misinformation and disinformation and the growing influence of powerful interests that don’t want to be held accountable.
As revenue from advertising and subscriptions have dropped, many news outlets in LA, including the LA Times, have had to implement staff cuts that limit their capacity for in-depth, investigative reporting (Source: Pew Research Center, "Newspapers Fact Sheet," 2022). Compounding this, the consolidation of the LA media market, including acquisitions of major local outlets like the LA Times and KTLA, has led to significant reduction in diverse viewpoints, marginalized voices and erosion of public trust in media. LA journalists need a high-integrity editorial team; Angelenos need verified, independent truth-seeking journalism they can trust to inform critical self-governing decisions.

Our Solution: We believe the solution to this problem is unabashed support for independent, difference-making journalism in LA. Red Canary Magazine is the only organization in the LA area reporting on environmental and social justice issues through the lens of art and deeply researched, independent journalism. We are seeking funding to revitalize independent journalism in LA, addressing the crisis of declining investigative reporting and the erosion of trust in the media. This funding will enable us to double our investigative reporting capacity, expand our reach via digital platforms, deepen our engagement with the LA community, provide tech/creative jobs for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in LA, & empower Angelenos with the knowledge/tools they need to build a more just and sustainable future. Project Activities: Produce 18 investigative stories on critical LA issues, including: pollution, environmental impact on marginalized communities, water scarcity and sustainable land use. Produce 9 poems focused on the same critical issues.
Redesign our website, enhance social media presence and launch a podcast to reach a wider audience and foster deeper engagement with these issues.
Host sponsored community salons to discuss our reporting, facilitate dialogue and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Offer internships, mentorship and paid opportunities for established and emerging journalists, filmmakers, and creatives from underrepresented backgrounds.

Our vision for success is to inform LA citizens’ civic responsibility by providing high-integrity journalism needed for a more sustainable and equitable LA.
Short-Term Impact (Oct 2024-Oct 2025):
Employ LA Tech & Creative Industry people from traditionally underrepresented groups. Publish more LA community-focused journalism on water conservation, air pollution, wildfires & sustainable land use.
Host a series of sponsored salons to engage audiences in article topics more deeply, focusing on the theme "The Commons: The Ocean, The Atmosphere, The Topsoil and The Forest." Shine a light on the challenges/solutions facing Angelenos, empowering them with knowledge & inspiring them to take action.
Long-Term Impact (Beyond Oct 2025):
Host experiential events, building a network of local leaders dedicated to change. Launch a podcast to expand our reach, amplify the voices of Angelenos and spark conversations that drive action.
Grow our impact by expanding coverage of critical LA issues.

Red Canary Magazine measures impact by systematically tracking our works’ impact. Our journalists don’t do “one-and-done” articles, but instead follow the story even after publication. We track outcomes through ongoing conversations with our journalists, community outreach and surveys. Recent examples of our local impact: “Rise of the American Favela” by Sam Slovick – This award-winning story brought awareness to the new state of homelessness in LA and those serving this community.
"The Ills of Urban Oil Drilling" exposed health risks faced by under-represented Angelenos living near oil wells. After publication, an oil well shut down with Red Canary's support.
“In Search of the Lost River” by Henry Cherry – This story renewed interest in the LA River and was featured in the LA Public Library's exhibit “It Really Is a River" sponsored by Humanities For All.
“The Art of Reparation” by Steffie Nelson – This award-winning story illustrates Lauren Bon's vision of an LA River after us.