WordPress parent Automattic, Google, Lenfest, Civil funder ConsenSys, and Knight announced Newspack, a next-generation publishing platform for news organisations targeted specifically to smaller, local news publishers that have struggled with traffic and revenue and don’t have lots of technology resources.

“Today we’re excited to announce funding for a new platform, Newspack by WordPress.com, aimed at small- and medium-sized news organizations. Google, through the Google News Initiative, is taking the lead in backing the project and has committed $1.2 million. Other funders include The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which is contributing $400,000; ConsenSys, the venture studio backing Civil Media, which is contributing $350,000; and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which is contributing $250,000. An additional $200,000 from a fifth source is expected to be contributed toward the project later this month.”

Mark Armstrong, WordPress.com

Over the past 15 years, WordPress has grown to become the world’s most popular publishing platform — and it’s especially true for news organizations. WordPress powers some of the most trusted names in journalism including Time.com, CNN, The New York Times, Forbes, and Reuters. This initiative is bringing some of the large media tech to local news publishers.