Dear friends,

A free press is essential to our democratic way of life. Independent, factual information enriches communities and helps each of us make decisions about our daily lives. Because of journalism, we are better informed. We are more connected. We are stronger. 

Poynter equips local journalists with the skills they need to answer the questions you want to know: The "who." The "what." The "where." The "when." And most importantly, the "why." 

Because questions of "why" are the ones that keep us up at night. They’re the most complicated. The ones that get brushed aside when the rest of the world moves on. The ones that require time, persistence and courage to answer.

Here’s how one Florida newspaper tried to answer the question: Why did a tragedy happen in this high school on Valentine’s Day? 

Donate to Poynter today and help us train more journalists like the ones you met in the video to spark important change and improve the quality of life for your family and community.