The News Measure Research Project conducts groundbreaking research on the state of local news and provides an updated understanding of the strength and performance of local news ecosystems to help journalists, funders, and advocates assess the state of local news. Originally based at and funded by grants to Rutgers University, in 2018 the project relocated and is now funded through grants to Duke University.

​Why We Invested

The News Measure Research Project is a multi-pronged effort to develop assessment tools for local journalism that can be used in a variety of contexts, including professional practice, academic research, policy making/policy analysis, and grant-making strategy formulation and assessment. These assessment tools cover three primary, inter-connected areas: 1) assessing the nature of journalistic content; 2) assessing the needs, interests, and preferences of local news audiences; and 3) assessing the health and rigor of the local news infrastructures in communities.

2018: $120,000 over 18 months; 2016: $225,325 over 2 years; 2015: Up to $300,000 over 2 years; 2014: Up to $500,000 over 2 years