The news plays a core role in people’s lives, but over time local and daily newspapers have closed their doors, leaving local residents less informed and connected to key issues that affect their communities. Recognizing this issue, funders in Central Washington created The Yakima Free Press Campaign to address the journalistic decline in the rural Yakima Valley. This Washington Bright Spot demonstrates the role philanthropy can play in preserving and improving local journalism to raise awareness on societal problems and solutions in a culturally sensitive and unbiased manner.