July 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to our July newsletter! Here’s what happened this month. 🎬 Journalism legends are coming to the Coachella Valley! Plus: award-winning local news, CVJF's Fast Pitch honor, AAN highlights, and why local reporting matters more than ever. Let us know if you have any feedback by emailing at [email protected].
Tickets on sale now for the new ‘Bylines, Broadcasts and the Big Screen’ film series
Some of the most prominent figures in journalism are coming to the Coachella Valley for a new film series, “Bylines, Broadcasts and the Big Screen,” that CVJF is producing in partnership with the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Among the journalists scheduled to appear: Carl Bernstein for a screening of “All the President’s Men;” Megan Twohey, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for exposing Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual abuses, for a screening of “She Said;” and Lowell Bergman, portrayed by Al Pacino for his work as a “60 Minutes” producer, for a screening of "The Insider."
The movie series runs from September 2026 to April 2027. For movie and guest speaker lineup, as well as ticketing information, go to the Cultural Center’s website. Season passes are on sale now. Tickets for individual movie screenings go on sale Monday.
The Supple Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the film series. Additional support is being provided by the Donald and Coeta Barker Foundation, David Cantwell and Vincent Monteleone, Stuart Kent and Mark Pellegrino, Jim and Carol Egan, and David Hood.
Coachella Valley Independent, The Desert Sun win dozens of accolades at CNPA awards
Two Valley news organizations, The Coachella Valley Independent and The Desert Sun, scored big wins in the California News Publishers Association’s annual contest. The Independent won 28 awards in its division, including third place for General Excellence. Meanwhile, in a separate category, The Desert Sun won 25 awards, including 10 first place prizes.
Competing among other non-dailies with a circulation between 11,001 and 25,000, or between 300,000 and 399,000 unique website visitors, The Independent claimed seven first place prizes, including best newsletter, health reporting, and arts and entertainment coverage.
The Desert Sun competed against other daily publications with a circulation between 15,001 and 50,000 or between 600,000-699,000 unique monthly visitors. The news organization won first place for its breaking news coverage of the 2025 bombing of a Palm Springs fertility clinic. It also took home first-place honors for its feature photography and coverage of homelessness issues.
CVJF selected for NPO Desert Fast Pitch competition
The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation is excited to announce that we have been selected as one of just 12 nonprofits chosen to compete in the 2026 NPO Desert Fast Pitch program. Board Secretary/Treasurer Julie Makinen will represent CVJF.
Organized by the Regional Access Project Foundation and NPO Centric, Desert Fast Pitch is an intensive leadership and fundraising development program that helps nonprofit executives strengthen their storytelling, marketing and fundraising skills. Participants receive weeks of expert coaching before taking the stage at the Desert Fast Pitch grand finale on Oct. 1 at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, where they will deliver a three-minute pitch before judges and a live audience for the chance to win funding for their organizations.
All finalists who complete the training program receive a $1,000 award, with additional cash prizes of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 awarded to the top three finishers, along with several special awards.
"We're honored to have this opportunity," Makinen said. "The training will help us become more effective at telling the story of why strong local journalism matters and will introduce the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation to new audiences and supporters across the region."
The finals will be held Thursday, Oct 1, 2026, at 5 pm at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The regular ticket price is $55. Early bird tickets (now through Aug. 1) are $45. To buy a ticket at the early bird rate, please click this link.
We hope many of you will be there to cheer on CVJF!
AAN convention in Palm Springs provided networking, growth opportunities
With workshops on a wide range of topics, from newsletter trends to the use of AI in newsgathering, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s annual convention at the Thompson Palm Springs Hotel earlier this month gave local journalists ample opportunity for networking and professional development.
Nine local journalists registered for the conference by tapping into funds provided by CVJF.
“Everything I have heard thus far from attendees -- including the locals who were able to attend for free, thanks to the generosity of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation -- has been overwhelmingly positive,” Coachella Valley Independent publisher and editor Jimmy Boegle wrote in a recent column.
The Independent served as the host publication for the convention, which drew about 130 attendees from across the country. CVJF showed its support by sponsoring the awards ceremony and providing AAN with a $2,500 stipend to cover admission costs for Valley journalists.
Study shows ratio of reporters covering Riverside County remains low
Last year, Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News analyzed the number of journalists working as local news reporters across the country and found Riverside County to be one of the most “undercovered” metropolitan areas in the nation.
The situation has not improved much. The new 2026 Local Journalist Index shows Riverside County with 2.3 journalists per 100,000 residents (up from 1.7 journalists last year.) The ratio remains low for a county its size. California’s county average came in at just over 6 reporters per 100,000 residents.
Nationally, the average number of local journalists per 100,000 residents fell to 7.8 from last year’s 8.2. In 2002, the national average was roughly 40 journalists per 100,000 residents.
Beyond the numbers, the Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News analysis of local news content revealed a “shocking lack” of coverage in critical areas such as education and healthcare. Communities are being left without the information they need “to function, connect, and hold institutions accountable,” the organizations said.
Partner Spotlight: Help Preserve Desert Hot Springs History
The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation partners with five local historical organizations because we believe news is the first rough draft of history. Journalists rely on the archives collected and curated by these history organizations. And journalists today are reporting stories that will go into the archives of tomorrow.
Did you know that CVJF Fourth Estate members who join at the Supporter level ($500+) or above can opt-in to receive a free annual membership to one of five local historical societies?
One of these wonderful groups is the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society, which recently launched its "Be the Link to the Legacy" Membership Drive, inviting residents, history enthusiasts and local businesses to help preserve the stories, landmarks and people that shaped one of the Coachella Valley's most distinctive communities.
DHS Historical Society members receive a variety of benefits throughout the year, including digital editions of Footprints magazine, quarterly "Fun Facts" emails highlighting little-known episodes from the city's past, invitations to the annual membership celebration, discounts on the popular History Speaks lecture series and books at the Historic Rock House Museum, and two-for-one admission to tours at Cabot's Pueblo Museum. Members can also enjoy guided tours of the Historic Rock House Museum and visit the new Heritage Court memorial brick courtyard and Pollinator Garden while supporting the Society's mission of preserving local history.
If you're already considering joining CVJF's Fourth Estate, selecting a Desert Hot Springs Historical Society membership is a great way to support both local journalism and the preservation of our region's history. If you are a Fourth Estate member who has not yet taken advantage of our historical society partnership offer, please email [email protected] for more information on how to get your free historical society membership!
Those who wish to support the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society directly can also learn more about its membership program at dhshistoricalsociety.org/membership.
Save the Date for the Media Hall of Fame!
You’ll want to save the date for the next Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame. The luncheon ceremony will take place on Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa. We’re excited about it! Details to come.
Randy Lovely, Board President Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation