A vibrant, informed community begins with local news that truly reflects the people it serves. That belief was core to our benefactor Jack Murdock’s vision for the Pacific Northwest: a region where stories are shared, voices are heard, and neighbors stay connected through reliable, community-focused journalism. Here are a few ways the Murdock Trust partners with public broadcasting, community journalism, and media outlets to amplify the stories that matter to the people of our region.
Public Broadcasting: The Heartbeat of Community Connection
Jack's love for broadcasting started young. He developed a passion for radio early in life, even serving as the resident radio technician in his high school and then proceeding to open and run an electronics shop right after graduating. It evolved into a lifelong commitment to support the public distribution of news.
Today, the Murdock Trust continues this legacy by supporting public broadcasting outlets across the region, including Montana PBS in Bozeman, The Raven Radio Foundation in Sitka, and Underscore Native News in Portland, among many others. While these stations may draw some national programming, they serve as the true heartbeat of their communities—providing hyperlocal coverage of city council meetings, high school sports, community events, and the everyday stories that bind neighbors together.
Community Journalism: Filling Critical Coverage Gaps
As traditional local newsrooms shrink and community-centered stories are replaced with click-driven content, we launched our Community Journalism program to help fill the gap. When headlines dominate the news, nonprofits and the communities they serve are often left in the shadows. We believe that local news, especially coverage that dives deep into the people, issues, and values that define a place, is essential for a thriving civil society.
Through this program, we've partnered with major outlets to ensure important beats don't go uncovered. At The Seattle Times, our support has helped spotlight the creative economy, including a standout project that surveyed 600 local artists to understand what it really takes to make a living through creativity in Seattle. In Oregon, our partnership with The Oregonian has elevated stories of faith across the state, offering insight into Oregon's unique religious landscape from interfaith unity to evolving holiday traditions. Years earlier, we began this work with Ruralite, supporting coverage that illuminated the challenges and opportunities in rural healthcare—stories that might otherwise go untold but are vital to understanding the full scope of our region's needs.
Media Partnerships: Expanding Community Engagement
Beyond traditional journalism, we partner with local media outlets to support innovative forms of storytelling and community engagement. Through collaborations with our region’s Business Journals, ongoing initiatives with local outlets, and educational webinars with The Seattle Times, we work with media partners to create platforms where community leaders, nonprofit professionals, and engaged citizens can come together to share knowledge and strengthen the fabric of civil society. These partnerships recognize that an informed community requires not just news consumption, but active participation in the conversations that shape our future.
Every story told, every voice amplified, is a step toward Jack’s vision of a more informed, engaged, and connected Pacific Northwest. We’re proud to support the journalists and media organizations doing this crucial work, and grateful to everyone committed to building a trusted and vibrant local news ecosystem, one story at a time.