Climate grant illustrates growth in philanthropy-funded news

The Associated Press is announcing a grant that will allow it to assign more than two dozen journalists around the world to cover climate issues

NEW YORK -- The Associated Press said Tuesday that it is assigning more than two dozen journalists across the world to cover climate issues, in the news organization's largest single expansion paid for through philanthropic grants.

The announcement illustrates how philanthropy has swiftly become an important new funding source for journalism — at the AP and elsewhere — at a time when the industry's financial outlook has been otherwise bleak.

The AP's new team, with journalists based in Africa, Brazil, India and the United States, will focus on climate change's impact on agriculture, migration, urban planning, the economy, culture and other areas. Data, text and visual journalists are included, along with the capacity to collaborate with other newsrooms, said Julie Pace, senior vice president and executive editor.

“This far-reaching initiative will transform how we cover the climate story,” Pace said.