Independent, award-winning news organization, Berkeleyside announced Dec. 10 that it will be launching a new news platform in Oakland in the spring of 2020. The announcement comes following Berkeleyside’s conversion to nonprofit.
Tasneem Raja, a trailblazer in nonprofit and community-led journalism and a former senior editor at NPR and Mother Jones, will lead the site as editor-in-chief. Also, the new site is expected to employ eight editorial staffers, making it one of the largest newsrooms in the city.
The yet unnamed journalism program is initially being funded by Google News Initiative and The American Journalism Project, each contributing $1.56 million to the new venture. Additionally, the AJP will also be providing close strategic support to Berkeleyside’s new nonprofit and its Oakland news site.
“Building on what we have learned over 10 years at Berkeleyside, we intend to deliver independent, high-quality journalism to foster civic engagement, enrich people’s lives and contribute to a healthy democracy,” said Berkeleyside Co-Founder Lance Knobel. “Our Oakland news site will provide the accountability journalism and watchdog reporting that is at risk during a time of news cutbacks.”
To keep updated, readers can log on to berkeleyside.com/oakland
