This coalition, operating under the name "Press Forward," secured funding from Prince Harry's Archewell Foundation and 21 other donors. Their objective was to provide financial support to struggling local newsrooms throughout the United States. They pledged an initial $500 million and aimed to raise a billion dollars within the next five years.
The stated purpose was to bolster communities and democracy, but Harry's open disdain for journalists and his association with figures like Pierre Omidyar, who has supported censorious non-profits in the past, raised questions about the non-partisan nature of this endeavor.
Furthermore, skepticism arose among the 21 other donors regarding Prince Harry's commitment to contributing funds. He claimed that he would use Archewell funds for this purpose, even though there was only $10 million remaining in that account. This discrepancy led to concerns that it deviated from the original donor's intent and could potentially result in a legal dispute against Archewell.
Prominent billionaires like Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and heirs to the Ford family fortune also pledged their financial support to Press Forward. While these individuals possess significant wealth, Prince Harry's involvement with limited funds may complicate the agreement and delay its execution.
Such actions could tarnish Archewell's ability to raise funds in the future, as using donations to acquire for-profit entities for the explicit purpose of attacking free speech may not sit well with major donors.
Additionally, the opinions of Press Forward donors regarding the Supreme Court, one of the last bastions defending journalists, appear unfavorable. Conservative justices, who are more likely to support Americans against the Biden administration's efforts to censor information on social media (as demonstrated in the Missouri v. Biden case), are increasingly targeted by outlets backed by Prince Harry's side.
From an electoral perspective, the impact of gender-driven local news outlets on elections is evident, potentially altering the course of America's future and, by extension, the world's. Well-funded groups have been testing the waters with varying degrees of success, and last year, Democrats spent substantial sums supporting seemingly innocuous local outlets like the Dogwood, strategically located in key swing states.
While high-quality local news remains crucial for the stability of American democracy, caution is warranted concerning the true intentions of organizations like Press Forward. The decline of local newspapers is indeed a concerning development.
