San José Spotlight is delighted to announce Omar Habbas as the first major supporter of a new educational initiative to invest in the next generation of journalists in Silicon Valley.
Studies show the U.S. has lost 3,200 newspapers since 2005 – more than one-third of all its newspapers. The decline in local news fosters the spread of disinformation, polarization and government corruption, and leads to a drop in civic participation and voting. The erosion of fact-based reporting undermines democratic processes and disproportionately hurts marginalized and underrepresented populations.
As an independent nonprofit outlet, San José Spotlight is uniquely positioned to make a sustainable and transformative impact on the local journalism landscape.
“Local journalism is not just about reporting news. It is about uplifting communities, fostering engagement, and safeguarding democracy,” said Ramona Giwargis, Co-Founder and CEO of San José Spotlight. “By partnering with Omar Habbas, we are taking a critical step in building the future of journalism in Silicon Valley by investing in the youth.”
The first-of-its-kind program supported by Mr. Habbas aims to cultivate a pipeline of local reporters through hands-on training with a focus on journalists from underrepresented communities.
“The law and journalism share a common mission: to seek truth and ensure justice for all,” said Omar Habbas, Founder of Habbas & Associates. “I am honored to join San José Spotlight and make a difference in the delivery of objective, honest, and reliable news through this educational initiative.”
Along with the investment from Mr. Habbas, San José Spotlight is seeking funding from philanthropic partners and foundations to expand the program. To make a gift in support of this new educational initiative, please contact Thi Tran, San José Spotlight’s Director of Development, at [email protected].
About San José Spotlight
Founded in 2019, San José Spotlight is a national leader among nonprofit newsrooms, dedicated to fearless journalism that disrupts the status quo, uplifts marginalized voices, holds power to account and paves the way for change. San José Spotlight is changing the face of local journalism by building a community-supported newsroom that ignites civic engagement, educates residents and strengthens our democracy. For more information, see https://sanjosespotlight.com/.
About Habbas & Associates
Backed by over 200 years of collective experience and hundreds of millions of dollars in case successes, Habbas & Associates is dedicated to helping clients who have been injured due to negligence. The firm has offices across Northern California, specifically San Jose, Oakland, Modesto, Rocklin, and San Francisco. Habbas & Associates provides legal services for personal injuries, including car accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, and more. For additional information, see https://www.habbaslaw.com/.
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