Yuan Media is Selected to Be A Report For America Newsroom Partner

NORTH BETHESDA – Yuan Media has been selected as one of 35 newsrooms participating in Report for America’s pilot accelerator program through which it will receive coaching, training and fiscal sponsorship to help diversify revenue streams by tapping into local philanthropic support. Yuan Media is also the only newsroom chosen from Maryland.

Despite its strong editorial efforts, Yuan Media has faced challenges in increasing revenue, especially given the overall decline in the media industry. "Report for America’s fundraising coaching, training and support are exactly the support we urgently need," said Ting Tang, Yuan Media’s Editor-in-Chief.

Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities across the US and its territories. By creating a new, sustainable model for journalism, Report for America provides people with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and restore trust in the media. Their proven partnership model is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations—like Yuan Media.

In this pilot program, Yuan Media will work to diversify its revenue streams by tapping into local philanthropic support. This program is built upon Report for America’s support of more than 400 newsrooms that have collectively raised $30 million since 2017.

"We're thrilled to welcome Yuan Media into our inaugural Accelerator program," said Morgan Baum, Director of Local News Sustainability at Report for America. According to Baum, when selecting newsrooms, they considered several key factors —- such as relationships with community stakeholders, the existing infrastructure to support their revenue strategies, opportunities for mutual learning and sharing best practices, and the ability to set clear, mseasurable financial objectives.

“Through our conversations with Pingping Yin, Chief Correspondent at Yuan Media, it became evident that they would be an excellent partner and that their newsroom is ready to tackle the challenges needed to achieve their fundraising and revenue targets," said Baum.

Yuan Media’s editorial team sees this selection as not only an opportunity for growth but also a meaningful recognition of their contributions to the community and the industry.

“We’re deeply honored to be selected for Report for America’s pilot accelerator program! This recognition affirms our value and importance to the Asian Ameircan and Pacific Islander(AAPI) communities and the media landscape,” said Pingping Yin, Yuan Media’s Chief Correspondent, “Through Report for America’s coaching, we’re excited to learn how to seek external financial support to strengthen our mission.”

Yuan Media is committed to a specialized focus on the AAPI communities, delivering insightful reporting and enterprise stories within this demographic. Stand as one of the country’s most rapidly growing populations, poised to play a pivotal role in our nation’s future. Yet, the news coverage of this demographic remains insufficient, resulting in a lack of due consideration for this specific ethnic group in various areas, notably in policymaking. Therefore, at Yuan Media, its goal is to provide in-depth stories that allow audiences across the nation to gain a deeper understanding of AAPI perspectives and concerns.

“We believe that through our reporting, a more comprehensive understanding of this demographic will contribute to increased inclusivity in multiple aspects of the nation. As a result, the traditionally inactive civil engagement within this community will progressively evolve across generations through our sustained focus and coverage,” said Tang.

With the coaching, training and support of Report for America next year, Tang said he held confidence in getting a jumpstart on this partnership and a bright, new future of Yuan Media.

Watch the following video to learn more about Report For America's Pilot Accelerator Program