Pittsburgh, PA – March 2, 2026 – Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership (PMP) have teamed up to launch a regional public awareness campaign highlighting the strength and collaboration of more than 40 news organizations across southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA).
The campaign -- “40+ newsrooms. At Work. Every Day. For You.” -- was created by Fifth Influence, a Pittsburgh digital-first advertising agency. It debuts today and will run through May on paid social media, streaming audio and YouTube in the SWPA area and on PMP social platforms.
Press Forward is a national coalition designed to strengthen communities by supporting local news and information. Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania convenes regional funders and stakeholders to support local news that values collaboration, connection and community across 10 counties in the region.
“Press Forward and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership make southwestern Pennsylvania better connected and more resilient to changes in our local news ecosystem,” said Andrew Conte, Ph.D., director of the Center for Media Innovation, which administers the Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter. Conte explained by working together, including on this awareness campaign, foundations and newsrooms are making the case that Pittsburgh is not a news desert, but one with a strong, local news ecosystem.
“The Pittsburgh Media Partnership strives to strengthen the local news ecosystem in our region,” said Jim Busis, co-chair of the PMP and CEO & publisher of Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. “The announced closure of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the closure of Pittsburgh City Paper have sharpened everyone’s awareness of the crisis here in our region,” he added.
“At a moment when some are questioning the future of local journalism in Pittsburgh, this campaign makes something clear: the region’s news ecosystem is active, collaborative, and deeply committed to the communities it serves,” said George Potts, president and founder of Fifth Influence.
Busis added: “The PMP hopes that our partnership with Press Forward to educate the public on the need for and the availability of quality local news will be a first step in strengthening the connection between local readers and news outlets.”
About the Pittsburgh Media Partnership
The Pittsburgh Media Partnership is a collaborative of newsrooms housed within the Center for Media Innovation that works together for the benefit of all partner news organizations across Southwestern Pennsylvania. The partnership, launched in 2020, consists of several pillars: a fully staffed newsroom focused on enterprise reporting, professional development, editorial collaboration, operations support, career pathways, and community engagement. The PMP exists to help support news organizations as they innovate, strengthen their work, and come together for mutual benefit.
About Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania
Press Forward is a national initiative with 44 chapters working to strengthen communities by supporting local news and information. Since 2024, Press Forward Southwestern Pennsylvania has convened funders and partners to support collaborative, community-centered journalism across 10 counties in the region. Between 2019 and 2025 these funders contributed more than $21 million to the media ecosystem. Founding partners include The Benter Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh and the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University.