Oklahoma Media Center
Oklahoma Media Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds, trains, and convenes more than 30 local newsrooms across Oklahoma through re-granting programs, journalist training, and press-freedom advocacy, supported primarily by philanthropic foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersEnid, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Oklahoma Media Center does
Oklahoma Media Center (OMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The organization functions as a statewide convener, capacity-builder, and re-grantor for local journalism, currently funding, training, and supporting more than 30 local newsrooms across Oklahoma. Its operational scope spans direct financial support to community newsrooms, journalist training, public editorial advocacy on press freedom, and primary research on Oklahoma's news-desert landscape, including statewide voter polling on local news trust.
OMC's core "products" are programmatic rather than commercial technology. Its portfolio includes the Ecosystem Engagement Project (a re-granting vehicle disbursing sub-awards to newsrooms), the Blue Engine Training curriculum, the Free Press Isn't Free public-education campaign, the Promised Land collaborative launched in 2021, the annual Oklahoma Local News Summit, and recurring Journalist Stipend Awards. The organization does not appear to operate a proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure is grant administration, training delivery, research, and convening, with a lean staff reported at 1–10 employees including an Executive Director (Rob Collins) and a Program Coordinator (Zach McGrew).
OMC's revenue model is philanthropic grant funding, not commercial. It does not charge newsrooms for services; instead, newsrooms are net recipients of grant capital and training. Revenue is sourced primarily from two foundations—the Insofar Foundation (its founding sponsor) and the Kirkpatrick Foundation—with smaller contributions from donors such as Mike Hosty and Mechanism Digital. The economic logic is impact-first: the "customers" (Oklahoma newsrooms and journalists served) receive services at no cost, while OMC's own revenue is set by foundation grant cycles and donor cultivation.
Oklahoma Media Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oklahoma Media Center
- Legal name
- Oklahoma Media Center
- Website
- https://oklahomamediacenter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Oklahoma Media Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds, trains, and convenes more than 30 local newsrooms across Oklahoma through re-granting programs, journalist training, and press-freedom advocacy, supported primarily by philanthropic foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oklahoma Media Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Local News Support Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN), Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Oklahoma Media Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Enid
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oklahoma Media Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: Primary funding from Oklahoma-based foundations including Kirkpatrick Foundation (funding polling, research, news literacy campaign) and Insofar Foundation (launching OMC in 2020 and supporting Ecosystem Engagement Fund).
- Individual Donations: Free membership for collaborators; organization accepts individual donations through Givebutter platform.
- Event Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship levels for Oklahoma Local News Summit: First Amendment Champion ($10,000), Guardian of the Constitution ($5,000), Defender of Democracy ($2,500), Free Press Advocate ($1,000).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Free collaborative membership for qualifying news organizations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Oklahoma Media Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oklahoma Media Center is a nonprofit collaborative that strengthens Oklahoma's local news ecosystem by providing free membership, training, grant funding, stipends, and research support to more than 30 collaborating newsrooms including newspapers, broadcasters, nonprofit outlets, Indigenous media, Black-owned media, and student media. It operates programs such as the Ecosystem Engagement Project (polling + research + grant fund), Blue Engine digital training cohorts, the Free Press Isn't Free news literacy campaign, and the Oklahoma Local News Summit.
Product overview
Oklahoma Media Center is a nonprofit collaborative organization that supports and strengthens Oklahoma's local news ecosystem. Rather than a unified software product, OMC operates as an umbrella organization connecting more than 30 news outlets statewide including newspapers, broadcasters, nonprofit outlets, Indigenous media, Black-owned media, and student media. The organization offers multiple programs including the Ecosystem Engagement Project with its grant fund, Blue Engine training programs for digital strategy, the Free Press Isn't Free news literacy campaign, the annual Oklahoma Local News Summit, and Journalist Stipend Awards. Membership is free and open to qualifying Oklahoma news organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oklahoma Media Center Collaborative Membership Free collaborative membership program for professional news organizations in Oklahoma (newspapers, broadcasters, nonprofit, Indigenous, Black-owned, and student media) that meet OMC criteria including journalism skills, no partisan affiliations, adherence to SPJ Code of Ethics, and physical presence or significant coverage in Oklahoma.
- Ecosystem Engagement Project Multiphase project combining scientific polling of 500 Oklahoma voters, qualitative field research in news deserts and underserved metro communities, Trusting News training, and a $100,000+ engagement fund designed to increase trust and financial support for local news.
- Blue Engine Training Program Eight-week digital training cohort pairing local newsrooms with Blue Engine Collaborative coaches (Cierra Hinton, Rebecca Meyer) to improve digital user experience, audience engagement, and revenue strategies, with stipends provided to participating newsrooms.
- Free Press Isn't Free Campaign News literacy campaign featuring a Schoolhouse Rock!-inspired animated video with an original song commissioned from Oklahoma musician Mike Hosty, designed to bolster trust and support for local newsrooms; included stipends to 18 local newsrooms to execute paid Meta ad campaigns.
- Oklahoma Local News Summit Annual statewide event featuring First Amendment programming, journalism training sessions, and a joint awards ceremony with FOI Oklahoma and SPJ Oklahoma; tiered sponsorship levels available from $1,000 (Free Press Advocate) to $10,000 (First Amendment Champion).
- Ecosystem Engagement Fund $100,000+ grant fund distributed to local newsrooms to implement data-driven engagement projects with Trusting News coaching and support, aimed at enhancing trust and sustainability of local journalism.
- Promised Land Collaborative Coverage Shared coverage topic focusing on tribal sovereignty issues following the McGirt Supreme Court ruling, with stories contributed by multiple OMC collaborating newsrooms across the state.
- Journalist Stipend Awards
Quantifiable outcome
- 388,633 impressions from news literacy campaign with 18 newsrooms spending average of $350 per Meta ad campaign
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Oklahoma Media Center
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Oklahoma Media Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Oklahoma Media Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Blue Engine CollaborativecoreNational network of news business coaches partnered with OMC to launch a training program examining digital user experience and helping local newsrooms implement new ways to drive revenue. Ten newsrooms received eight-week coaching cohort with coaches Cierra Hinton and Rebecca Meyer, seeing double-digit increases in newsletter subscribers and donor support.
- Trusting NewscoreNationally known nonprofit that trains and empowers journalists to demonstrate credibility and actively earn trust through transparency and engagement. Trusting News interprets OMC research findings and provides office hours, one-on-one coaching, and online support for participating newsrooms.
- Local Media AssociationcoreNational organization that co-founded OMC with Insofar Foundation in 2020 to support and strengthen Oklahoma's local news ecosystem.
- Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & AssociatesminorOklahoma City-based polling firm conducted scientific survey of 500 registered voters in December 2022 with margin of error of plus/minus 4.3% for OMC's ecosystem engagement project phase one.
- University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass CommunicationminorOU's journalism school hosted Trusting News training event in September 2023 for OMC collaborators. Partnership includes student media participation in collaborative and joint training programs.
- Oklahoma State University School of Media and Strategic CommunicationsminorOSU researchers (Rosemary Avance, assistant professor) conducted qualitative field research in underserved rural and metro Oklahoma communities for OMC's ecosystem engagement project phase two.
- Mechanism DigitalminorNew York City-based studio contracted to produce animated video for Free Press Isn't Free campaign. Team led by Creative Director Lucien Harriot and Producer Valeriu Iancu created Schoolhouse Rock-style animation.
- Mike HostyminorOklahoma musician wrote original song 'Free Press Isn't Free' commissioned by OMC for news literacy campaign. Hosty composed song in style of Bob Dorough's iconic Schoolhouse Rock music.
- Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse DepartmentminorPartnership provides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for collaborating journalists through OMC. Journalists can access support by identifying themselves when contacting the department.
- Oklahoma Press AssociationcoreTrade association representing more than 170 state newspapers and news organizations became strategic partner with OMC in 2023.
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) - Local Legal InitiativeminorRCFP's Oklahoma Local Legal Initiative provides expanded support for OMC collaborators with attorney Kathryn Gardner based in Oklahoma. Also provides access to U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
- Freedom of Information OklahomaminorNonprofit created centralized database of open records requests. Executive Director Kurt Gwartney serves on OMC Board of Directors.
- University of Central OklahomaminorPartnered with OMC on database training workshop and independent study with several Oklahoma news organizations.
- Harvard Shorenstein Center (The Journalist's Resource)minorHarvard University research center collaborated with OMC to share resources helping journalists understand and cover stories related to landmark SCOTUS cases like McGirt.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Oklahoma Media Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- VTDigger: Vermont-focused nonprofit digital news outlet and member of similar state-level journalism networks. Comparable as a state-scope nonprofit news organization in the same ecosystem OMC serves.
- CalMatters: California-focused nonprofit newsroom covering state policy with collaborative distribution to local outlets. Comparable state-level nonprofit newsroom that, like OMC's members, relies on philanthropic funding and shared-content models.
Direct peers
- Local Media Association: National organization co-founder of OMC that supports local media through training, consulting and shared services. Directly comparable as both a peer and OMC's institutional parent-organization in the model.
- Lenfest Institute for Journalism: Philanthropy-backed organization that invests in and supports local newsrooms, especially in Philadelphia and through national initiatives. Comparable as a major funder/operator in the local-news sustainability space.
- Report for America: National nonprofit that places journalists into under-covered local newsrooms and provides training/coaching. Comparable mechanism of strengthening local news capacity through targeted human-capital and training investments.
- American Journalism Project: Venture-style nonprofit that funds and builds local nonprofit newsrooms across the U.S. Comparable as a philanthropy-backed operator working to make local news sustainable.
- Institute for Nonprofit News: National membership organization that supports and networks nonprofit newsrooms. Highly comparable as the trade body for the same population of mission-driven news organizations OMC mobilizes in Oklahoma.
- Blue Engine Collaborative: National coaching network for local newsrooms on digital user experience and revenue strategy. Direct OMC partner and tightly comparable peer in the newsroom training/coaching service layer.
- Trusting News: National nonprofit that trains journalists to build audience trust through transparency. A direct OMC partner and mission-adjacent peer operating in the same trust-building niche.
- States Newsroom: A nonprofit network that operates and supports state-level digital newsrooms (similar to OMC's umbrella-of-newsrooms concept) across the U.S. Closely comparable as a multi-state platform backing local nonprofit journalism outlets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oklahoma Media Center social profiles
Digital presenceOklahoma Media Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oklahoma Media Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Oklahoma Media Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oklahoma Media Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma Media Center
What does Oklahoma Media Center do?
Oklahoma Media Center is a nonprofit collaborative that strengthens Oklahoma's local news ecosystem by providing free membership, training, grant funding, stipends, and research support to more than 30 collaborating newsrooms including newspapers, broadcasters, nonprofit outlets, Indigenous media, Black-owned media, and student media. It operates programs such as the Ecosystem Engagement Project (polling + research + grant fund), Blue Engine digital training cohorts, the Free Press Isn't Free news literacy campaign, and the Oklahoma Local News Summit.
Is Oklahoma Media Center a public or private company?
Oklahoma Media Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oklahoma Media Center founded?
Oklahoma Media Center was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Oklahoma Media Center based?
Oklahoma Media Center is headquartered in Enid, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oklahoma Media Center make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and event Sponsorships.
Who are Oklahoma Media Center's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are VTDigger and CalMatters. Direct peers are Local Media Association, Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Report for America, American Journalism Project, Institute for Nonprofit News, Blue Engine Collaborative, Trusting News and States Newsroom.
Does Oklahoma Media Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oklahoma Media Center.
What industry is Oklahoma Media Center in?
Oklahoma Media Center's product category is Nonprofit Local News Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAF, Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations, with a secondary code of MPABADAN, Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural). Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.