St. Louis Magazine launches Economic Mobility Lab with $900,000 grant

This investment allows us to deepen our journalism on one of the most pressing challenges facing our region: economic mobility. I’m proud of our tradition of award-winning reporting and that today our newsroom is the largest in our history. Thanks to JSMF’s generous support, we can now accelerate that impact at a defining moment for St. Louis.”

Matt Coen, owner, St. Louis Magazine

JOB OPENING

St. Louis Magazine has an immediate opening for a reporter capable of digging deeply into the economic mobility issues that hold St. Louis back. As it builds an Economic Mobility Lab within its publication, St. Louis Magazine is looking for a journalist who is excited about the chance to go deeper. LEARN MORE

St. Louis Magazine (SLM) has secured a three-year, $900,000 grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) to launch an Economic Mobility Lab, a newsroom initiative focused on one of the region’s most pressing challenges. The lab will formally launch this winter and fund two full-time reporters, alongside multimedia offerings and expanded contributions from freelance writers and photographers.

The move is part of the locally owned and operated media company’s larger transformation strategy. During the past three years, it has leaned into an email-first, niche-driven approach. Today, in addition to its flagship print edition, SLM publishes 18 niche newsletters that reach more than 200,000 subscribers, produces a portfolio of podcasts and runs a growing slate of events.

As it has grown, the company has also positioned itself as a civic institution, steadily investing in civic and business coverage by adding three journalists focused on daily news and business reporting during the past 18 months. Now, with the launch of the Economic Mobility Lab, it aims to take the next step in providing in-depth coverage for the community.

“This investment allows us to deepen our journalism on one of the most pressing challenges facing our region: economic mobility,” said SLM owner Matt Coen. “I’m proud of our tradition of award-winning reporting and that today our newsroom is the largest in our history. Thanks to JSMF’s generous support, we can now accelerate that impact at a defining moment for St. Louis.”

Philanthropy meets local media

The Economic Mobility Lab represents SLM’s first philanthropic infusion and reflects the growing role of philanthropy in local journalism. SLM earlier participated in the Local Media Association’s Lab For Journalism Funding, a program that teaches strategies for sustaining journalism in part through philanthropy. Now, SLM is leveraging grant funding to expand editorial capacity in an area that is largely undercovered.

Founded in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell, JSMF has awarded more than $500 million in grants, with a recent emphasis on economic mobility. JSMF president Jason Q. Purnell said the foundation views the investment as a way to bolster public dialogue. 

“Our ability to invest in solutions for St. Louis depends on the public’s access to information that explains what is at stake,” Purnell said. “By adding more resources to St. Louis Magazine’s proven journalism, we can help ensure that more people are part of the conversation about the future of our region.”