Central Valley
Journalism Collaborative

Introducing a sustainable model to restore Central Valley local journalism through the support of investors, partners, and existing media to reimagine the core value of journalism in the Central Valley: its ability to serve as the voice of communities and sustainability through the communities being served.

The launch of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC) in 2021 marked a pivotal moment for the James B. McClatchy Foundation. For the first time in the Central Valley, philanthropy and community ownership come together to knit a dynamic and diverse news ecosystem that keeps independent local journalism alive, made for, by, and with the people who live here. Our goal is to protect the many vulnerable communities already impacted by the rapid decline of independent news in the Central Valley, brought on by both monopolizing bottom-line ownership and the rise of news deserts that foster mis/disinformation and threaten democracy and civic engagement for all of us. The Foundation believes in a vibrant local free press in which news writing and coverage reflect core values of equity and inclusion and do no harm. Join us on this journey.

Priscilla Enriquez

Chief Executive Officer

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The Start of CVJC

The James B. McClatchy Foundation conducted a study called the Feasibility Report on Developing a Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. This served as the catalyst for the CVJC.

CVJC Leadership

Alma Martinez
Executive Director
Alma Martinez serves as the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC) executive director. Prior to joining CVJC, Alma served the region’s diverse communities in the public and private sector. Alma’s professional journalism career started at nonprofit public radio network, Radio Bilingue where she focused on issues facing Latino, immigrant, and farmworker communities including healthcare access, environmental health, education, and civic participation. Born in Mexico, Ms. Martinez immigrated with her parents to California’s Central Valley at the age of three. She attended Los Banos High School and California State University, Fresno. Alma is married to Lucio Martinez, and they are proud parents to six children.