The Daily Egyptian is joining the AP Fund for Journalism (APFJ) State & Local News Program, a landmark local news partnership program that aims to support public service journalism and strengthen the U.S. local news ecosystem. 

The Associated Press announced in a press release on March 10 that 50 additional news organizations are joining the program’s next cohort. The pilot program launched in spring 2025, providing access to AP news content, training and editorial planning support to news partners across the country. 

“I was honored to learn that the DE was selected, but not surprised,” Daily Egyptian editor-in-chief Carly Gist said. “The entire staff gives their all to every assignment. Now, with the help of the AP, we’ll be able to continue leaving a lasting impact in southern Illinois.” 

According to the AP’s news release, this spring’s initiative is focused on three sub-cohorts: Spanish language news outlets, regional outlets in the southwestern U.S. and university news organizations. As an APFJ partner, the DE will have access to AP text, photo and video services for use in the DE’s print, online and social media platforms. The DE will also have access to election results for the Illinois and national general elections. 

“The Daily Egyptian is filling critical gaps in news coverage in deep southern Illinois,” DE faculty adviser Alee Quick said. “This partnership will allow our students to dive deeper into the effects of regional, national and international events on our local communities while also increasing the impact of our students’ reporting.” 

Of the 50 newsrooms selected for the spring cohort, just eight are student-led. The other university papers are the Niner Times (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), The Daily Pennsylvanian (University of Pennsylvania), The Daily Nebraskan (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), The Mercer Cluster (Mercer University), The Red & Black (University of Georgia Athens), The Round Up (New Mexico State University) and The Sunflower (Wichita State University). Capitol News Illinois, a DE publishing partner, was also selected.  

“The DE is a student-run newspaper that is serving our community’s need for credible information, distributed weekly in four southern Illinois counties and Springfield — for free,” Quick said. “DE students are gaining hands-on experience, and that’s what makes our educational experience so special. This partnership will provide exposure to another tool of the trade that will prepare students for work in journalism before they graduate from SIU.”

As a partner, the DE will also share its own content through the AP’s distribution network, widening the reach and impact of its reporting. 

“Local journalism is critical to keeping communities informed,” Gist said. “Without it, we lose real stories, connection, accountability and even safety. Carbondale is surrounded by news deserts, which is why the DE is constantly working to cover stories throughout southern Illinois in addition to the university. Through the AP distribution network, we’ll be able to reach an even wider audience and ensure that even more communities are remaining educated about what’s happening here.” 

The APFJ now has 100 newsroom partnerships across the U.S. According to the release, the organization aims to have 150 by the end of 2026 and 300 by 2028. 

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