SPJ Florida launches new Hand Up Fund for journalists who’ve lost work

SPJ Florida board members are always saddened to hear about layoffs, downsizing and pay cuts — all things that have already happened to journalists in our state within the first few months of 2020.

So we want to pay for your groceries, help you with your next bill, assist with childcare — we really just want to do something.

Inspired by our friends at SPJ Oregon, we’re launching the SPJ Florida Hand Up Fund, a small grant program giving up to $100 for Florida journalists who have recently been laid off or that have lost work this year because of budget constraints or newsroom downsizing.

While we hope for this to become an ongoing program, our launch — with $500 allotted for distribution — is going to focus mainly on journalists affected by the coronavirus. That means freelancers who have lost work, journalists who rely heavily on a service industry-based second income and others who have lost their job in the middle of this pandemic are encouraged to apply. 

“I was laid off from my first full time newspaper job — my hometown paper — less than two years in,” President Emily Bloch said. “Journalists told me it was a ‘badge of honor,’ in this industry. I told them it was one I never asked for. The point is, we’ve been there. Most of our board has been there. And we want to do what we can to show our solidarity.”

Learn how to apply or donate by visiting our Hand Up Fund page.