2025 New Mexico Local News Matching Campaign Report: Community Investment in Action
Local news continues to face mounting challenges across the country, and New Mexico is no exception. With limited resources, shrinking newsrooms, and entire communities at risk of becoming “news deserts,” the need for sustainable, community-supported journalism has never been more urgent.
But once again, New Mexicans showed what’s possible when communities rally behind the stories that shape their daily lives.
About the Campaign
From December 1 to December 31, 2025, the New Mexico Local News Fund hosted its 5th Annual New Mexico Local News Matching Campaign. During this time, participating newsrooms were eligible to receive up to $6,000 in matching funds—meaning every dollar donated by readers went twice as far in supporting local reporting.
This campaign is made possible through the generosity of funders who believe in a thriving, independent local press—and by the readers, listeners, and community members who choose to invest in it.
Campaign Impact (2025)
Total funds raised: $228,724.20
Total matching funds disbursed: $121,113.32
Number of participating newsrooms: 22
Newsrooms receiving full $6,000 match: 16
From large public radio stations to hyperlocal rural outlets, this year’s campaign demonstrated both the reach and resilience of New Mexico’s local news ecosystem.
Participating Newsrooms
This year’s campaign included a diverse group of outlets serving communities across the state:
Together, these organizations represent urban, rural, Indigenous, arts-focused, investigative, and public media voices that reflect the full complexity of New Mexico.
Why It Matters
Local journalism is more than headlines—it’s infrastructure for democracy.
When communities have access to reliable, locally grounded reporting, they are better equipped to understand the issues that affect their lives, hold institutions accountable, and participate meaningfully in civic life. From school boards to state policy, from cultural storytelling to investigative reporting, local news connects people to place—and to each other.
Without it, misinformation spreads faster, trust erodes, and communities are left in the dark.
But this campaign proves something powerful: people care. They are willing to invest in journalism that reflects their realities, challenges power, and tells stories that might otherwise go unheard.
Keep the Momentum Going
The Matching Campaign may be over, but the need for support continues year-round.
You can help sustain local journalism in New Mexico by subscribing, donating, or becoming a member of a newsroom you trust. Every contribution strengthens the ecosystem and ensures that critical stories continue to be told.
Together, we’re not just supporting news—we’re building a more informed, connected, and resilient New Mexico.
