Pictured from left to right are Harvest Foundation President Kate Keller, Luanne Rife, Cardinal News executive director, Dwayne Yancey, Cardinal News executive editor, and DeWitt House, senior program officer at The Harvest Foundation. Courtesy of The Harvest Foundation.

Cardinal News has received funding from the Harvest Foundation to support a reporter in Martinsville and Henry County. The foundation is making a $300,000 grant to Cardinal News that will be paid in three annual installments.

In announcing the grant, Harvest Foundation Program Officer DeWitt House said: “Since its launch in September 2021, Cardinal News consistently develops factual and unbiased news coverage that benefits our entire community. Cardinal News tells stories that matter, whether it’s in-depth coverage on population changes at a local level, or a spotlight on issues in Richmond (Virginia) and how they affect Martinsville-Henry County. High-quality journalism creates a well-informed community and allows decision-makers outside Martinsville-Henry County to create policies that positively affect our lives.”

The foundation said the grant “directly aligns with Harvest’s strategic plan goal of developing a Vibrant Community by building a connected and revitalized MHC to attract and retain residents.”

“Growing a positive future for Martinsville-Henry County residents starts with education,” House said. “Healthy communities with access to high-quality information empower residents to make up their own minds from factual stories with diverse voices.”  

Cardinal is presently recruiting for this position.

How to apply

Send resume and clips to executive editor Dwayne Yancey at dwayne@cardinalnews.org.

This reporting position will increase Cardinal’s reporting staff to five, more than double the two reporters had when Cardinal launched in September 2021. Cardinal’s original news staff consisted of executive editor Dwayne Yancey, plus political reporter Markus Schmidt based in Richmond and business reporter Megan Schnabel based in Roanoke. In late July, Cardinal added a third reporting position — Grace Mamon in Danville. That position is funded through a grant from the Danville Regional Foundation. Earlier this week, Cardinal added a fourth reporting position — Susan Cameron in Bristol. That position was funded through a grant from the Genan Foundation. We’ve also added Brooke Stephenson as digital audience engagement editor thanks to a grant from The Secular Society and Erica Myatt as a part-time copy editor.

Cardinal News is based on public broadcasting model and is entirely supported by donors who have no say in news decisions: See our policy; see our policy.

Cardinal is seeking multi-year commitments to support additional reporting positions to cover education, health, technology in the Roanoke and New River valleys, as well as a reporter in Lynchburg. Cardinal News is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit. Here’s how to donate.

Yancey is editor of Cardinal News. His opinions are his own. You can reach him at dwayne@cardinalnews.org...