We are dedicated to growing support for local news and information to build connected and engaged communities.
We believe that trusted news and information is a public good as vital as clean water and fresh air, and our democracy depends on it.
Why does the Steinman Institute Exist?
The internet, unregulated social media, and the rise of artificial intelligence have knocked local journalism off its foundation. Since the mid-2000s, more than 2,500 newspapers have stopped publishing and employment at US newspapers has declined more than 50%. Many remaining newspapers are now owned by public companies or hedge funds without regard to the communities they purportedly serve.
When communities lose their newspapers, they are negatively impacted in quantifiable ways: Municipal borrowing costs increase, civic engagement diminishes, fewer people run for public office and polarization increases.
Local media maintains core community connections, it informs and educates, it gives voice to all, it promotes the local economy, and it keeps government and elected officials accountable at every level. Effective local media has the power to connect and unify rather than divide and polarize. It is a critical ingredient in creating and sustaining democracy itself.
Co-creating in the future of local news and information with our community.
The Steinman Institute is focusing its efforts first in the community LNP has called home for nearly 230 years – Lancaster County, as well as the surrounding counties.
Lancaster will be a laboratory for how robust local media plus education and engagement can result in a sustainable news models and improved civic engagement. It will be recording research, innovations and results to inform expansion within Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
Historic investments in local media innovation
The Steinman Institute has granted millions to Pennon, parent company of WITF and LNP | LancasterOnline to support new reporter beats, technology overhauls, launching a new Youth Newsroom, and additional youth programming focused on media literacy.
Creating open-source tools for information seeking
The Steinman Institute is conducting the region’s first information ecosystem map to learn about the ways our community is getting its news and information to invest in what’s working, and co-create new tools to fill gaps.
Promoting the value of local news
In partnership with Press Forward, The Steinman Institute is working to launch a national awareness campaign focused on the importance of local news and information, and the costs of losing reliable, locally-owned news sources.
Bridging difference and driving action
Powered by conversation and connection, The Steinman Institute is investing in community engagement that can cut through divisions to focus on local issues, and commonality.
Through our work in Deliberative Democracy/Forums, we are creating connections across differences and working on tools to take action.
About The Steinman Institute
The Steinman Institute is a subsidiary of WITF, a nonprofit organization. Its seed funding is provided through a five-year gift from The Steinman Foundation. The Institute will seek additional support from public donations, corporate partners, institutional funders and contributions from the business community. It is managed by a Board of Managers and an Executive Director.
Board of Managers
Bob Krasne (Chair)
Chair & CEO, Steinman Communications; Co-Chair, Steinman Foundation
Ron Hetrick (Vice-Chair)
President & CEO, WITF
Sandra Clark
CEO, StoryCorps
David Greene
Host, Left, Right & Center; Co-Founder, Fearless Media
Jim Hoehn
Regional President, Central Pennsylvania Region, PNC
Aron Pilhofer
Chief Product Officer at Star Tribune Media Company in Minneapolis, MN
Margaret Talev
Kramer Director, Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship
Shane Zimmerman
President, Steinman Communications; President, Steinman Foundation
Institute Team
Jess King
Executive Director
Aaron Spangler
Director of Engagement
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