After announcing it will invest millions in local news companies, Facebook already started donating money to news outlets.

As announced via company Journalism project, Facebook already picked first 50 local newsrooms across the US and Canada that are receiving $5,000 USD grants to help cover unexpected costs associated with covering the crisis in their communities.

„The grants will help fulfill needs such as increasing frequency of publishing, combating misinformation and serving vulnerable and at-risk groups“, explained Facebook on their site.

There were more applicants than anticipated – over 200 applications were received within the first 48 hours of the application so the „Facebook Journalism Project“ doubled its total grant pool to $2M, making it possible to award an even larger number of newsrooms.

A complete list of winners will be announced in early April.

Here is a list of first round of grantees and links to their coronavirus reporting.

Read coronavirus-related coverage in Advocate Lakewood/East Dallas, Advocate Lake Highlands, Advocate Oak Cliff, and Advocate Preston Hollow.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Cape May County Herald, Rio Grande, NJ

Read coronavirus-related coverage and resources here.



Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Casa Grande Dispatch, Casa Grande, AZ

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

County 10, Fremont County, WY

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

El Paso Matters, El Paso, TX

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Fort Frances Times Ltd., Fort Frances, ON Canada

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Grizzly Gazette (1990) Inc., Swan Hills, AB Canada

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Menifee 24/7, Menifee CA

Mission Local, San Francisco, CA

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

New Bedford Guide, New Bedford, MA

Niagara Frontier Publications, Grand Island, NY

NotiCel, San Juan, PR

On the 101, Santa Maria, CA

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Santa Cruz Local, Santa Cruz, CA

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Shaw Media, Crystal Lake, IL

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

SweetwaterNOW, Rock Springs, WY

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

TAPinto Newark and TAPinto Camden, New Jersey

Read coronavirus-related coverage in TAPinto Newark and TAPinto Camden.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.

Read coronavirus-related coverage in the Wallkill Valley Times, Mid Hudson Times and the Southern Ulster Times.

Read coronavirus-related coverage here.