10 local newsrooms in Washington will receive AP election resources. Microsoft funding aims to strengthen trusted reporting ahead of the 2026 midterms. Newsrooms get access to data, graphics, and reporting tools.
Local newsrooms in Washington state are set to receive a significant boost in election coverage resources as the AP Fund for Journalism, supported by Microsoft funding, expands its support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Ten news organizations across the state will gain access to The Associated Press’s political reporting, election results, race calls, vote tabulations, and state-specific maps and graphics. This initiative is designed to help local outlets deliver reliable, fact-based information on races and issues that matter most to their communities.
Participating newsrooms will also receive practical reporting tools, including tip sheets, contextual data from AP’s coverage, and suggestions for localizing national and state stories. According to Rachel White, CEO of the AP Fund for Journalism, the partnership with Microsoft enables more Washington newsrooms to access trusted election reporting and resources, supporting their ability to serve local audiences with credible information.
Microsoft’s Tech for Society team emphasized the importance of local newsrooms in civic infrastructure, especially during election years. The company said its support will help news organizations access reporting, results data, visuals, and local assistance that might otherwise be unavailable, ensuring more communities have timely and credible election information.
This effort is part of the AP Fund for Journalism’s broader mission to strengthen local journalism in the United States and expand access to nonpartisan, fact-based news, particularly in underserved areas. The fund, established in 2024, focuses on supporting public service journalism in key topics such as health, democracy, education, and climate.
The Associated Press, founded in 1846, remains a leading independent global news organization, providing fast, accurate, and unbiased news to audiences worldwide. Its journalism reaches more than half the world’s population daily. The importance of robust local news operations has also been highlighted in other regions, as seen when Swedish publishers adopted new engagement metrics to drive digital subscriptions.
