Dear residents of Merced and Merced County,
We are thrilled to announce the official launch of The Merced FOCUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to serving our vibrant community with essential fact-based journalism.
In today’s changing media landscape, communities like ours have suffered from the loss of vital local news coverage. The decline of traditional news sources has left a void in our understanding of the issues that directly impact our lives.
Our goal is simple: to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting that empowers informed decisions. Whether it’s local politics, education, environmental concerns, or cultural events, The Merced FOCUS will be a gateway to stories that matter most to you.
Our newsroom is part of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating journalism in the Central Valley. Through collaborative efforts with other local newsrooms, we strive to provide a diverse range of perspectives and ensure that our reporting reflects the richness and complexity of our community.
We’ve assembled a team with you in mind. Community conversations leading to our official launch have provided great insight into the topics that matter most to Merced residents. These include government accountability, bilingual community issues, higher education and healthcare. These topics, all under a community-building framework, are presented with the aim to provide timely and relevant news for an informed and civically engaged citizenry.
Reinvigorating locally-produced news that speaks to the heart of our community cannot be accomplished by one entity alone. It takes all of us and we need YOU! The Merced FOCUS can only succeed with community support. We believe that journalism is a collaborative endeavor, and we need your help to ensure that our newsroom thrives.
There are several ways you can support us:
- Sign up for our newsletter and news alerts: Stay informed about the latest news and developments in Merced and Merced County via your email inbox.
- Spread the word: Tell your family, friends and neighbors about The Merced FOCUS. Help us reach as many people as possible so that everyone can benefit from our reporting.
- Share our stories: Engage with our content on social media and share links to our work. Your support helps amplify our impact and reach new audiences.
- Support our partners: Existing news organizations can use our journalism to augment their own coverage; this helps spread important news as widely as possible.
- Utilize our self-service community calendar: We know Merced lacks a true community calendar. By adding your events to ours, we can change that.
- Donate to CVJC: Your financial support is essential to sustaining our operations and expanding our reach. Consider making a donation to support the work of The Merced FOCUS and other local newsrooms in our region.
- Tell us when we missed the mark – and when we’ve done something right: Your feedback helps us improve and ensures that we are meeting the needs of our community. If we made a mistake, tell us. Likewise, if you think we’ve done something right, don’t be bashful – it only helps us produce more and better work.
At The Merced FOCUS, we believe that local journalism has the power to inform, inspire, unite and activate our civic infrastructure. We are committed to providing high-quality, independent reporting that serves the public interest and holds those in power accountable.
Together, we can build a stronger, informed and thriving Merced County for generations to come.
Alma Martinez
Executive Director
Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
Joe Kieta
Executive Editor
Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
Victor Patton
Editor-in-Chief
The Merced FOCUS