The Kansas City Media Collective was established to address three intersecting challenges in the local media ecosystem:

1. Many in the community, particularly in marginalized areas, do not have access to local news

2. Trust in media as an institution has eroded due to the proliferation of misinformation and bias

3. Local media newsrooms are shrinking in response to financial pressure stemming from declining print revenue and challenges adapting to digital ad models

An informed and engaged citizenry is the bedrock of a healthy democracy. Local news outlets often identify “encouraging and inspiring civic engagement” as a top priority. (INN Index Fact Sheet 2023)

Philanthropy plays a role in supporting a healthy local news ecosystem. As a group, local outlets derive 45% of their total revenue from foundation grants. (INN Index Fact Sheet 2023)

Like many local news organizations across the country, Kansas City Media Collective partner organizations are working to rebuild local news as a community-supported public resource; private funders and foundations play an essential role in the sustainability of local journalism.

Our collective approach enables our partner organizations to efficiently leverage precious resources through our collaborative model.

Did you know that there will be over 100 elections in the Kansas City area this year? And, while the number of races taking place has only grown, from 2004 to 2024, the number of reporters per 100,000 population dropped 64%.

The Kansas City Media Collective (KCMC) is an affiliated group of local non-profit media organizations committed to working together to increase access to and trust in local media, while sustaining local media organizations at a time of financial challenges in our industry. KCMC member organizations understand that active and engaged communities are the bedrock of a healthy democracy, and it is our communities that suffer when journalism does not serve them well.

Thus, to better serve our communities, the Kansas City Media Collective and our partners are embarking on a first-of-its-kind collaboration in our area to publish a comprehensive voter guide covering 5 counties and over 100 races on both sides of the state line in the Kansas City area. This voter guide will be made widely available throughout the Metropolitan, enabling residents to quickly and easily access information about local races before casting their vote in the 2024 elections.