By Matthew (Moose) Lopez
Managing Editor, The Mesquite
Texas A&M San Antonio

It’s official: The Mesquite is funded by Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news.

The grant was awarded by Press Forward via the Miami Foundation as a part of the “Closing Local Coverage Gaps” grant’s open call in the amount of $50,000 over two years.

The purpose of the “Closing Local Coverage Gaps” grant is to support organizations that are providing original reporting in underserved communities.

The Mesquite was one of 205 grantees out of 931 applicants.

Teresa Talerico, clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and faculty advisor to The Mesquite and Director of Student of Media Jenny Moore submitted a proposal detailing how the outlet would benefit from receiving the grant.

Clinical assistant professor and The Mesquite News advisor is the recepient for the grant from Press Forward via The Miami Foundation. Photo courtesy of A&M-San Antonio
The Mesquite was established in 2009 as the first digital-only news outlet at a public university in Texas. The outlet was the first digital media initiative in the Texas A&M System to provide the latest campus news and viewpoint to students, faculty, alumni and the surrounding community.

In their proposal, Talerico and Moore said that although active in terms of production, The Mesquite as an organization is not growing.

“Their student reporters are undercompensated and expected to inform and educate our audiences at the bare minimum cost with the maximum time and effort,” the proposal said.

Talerico and Moore believe the funding from Press Forward will allow The Mesquite to grow, expand and act on its business model to help further program enrollment. Moreover, the scale of the outlet’s work could change as well. Additional funding could provide more editorial flexibility and room to address news coverage gaps. This elevated functionality will bring greater efficiency, rather than creating a weekly budget in relation to what five busy students can accomplish.

The Mesquite editors are currently paid $10 an hour.

Moore said the communications department initially found the grant through the A&M-San Antonio but applied through the San Antonio Area Foundation. She believes the grant will continue to fuel The Mesquite’s endeavors in journalism.

“The ability to carry through with their mission,” Moore said. “Which is to provide news and story telling to campus communities.”

Moore emphasized how this grant will continue to propel student journalists in their early careers while giving them a sense of accomplishment and confidence.

“What it provides to the students [of] The Mesquite is credibility,” Moore said. “Anytime that you receive a competitive grant from another state, you’ve been looked at by people who [have] never heard of you or the university.”

The recognition can be very gratifying, Moore said.

The funds can also further along the newly established internship program. Talerico started the internship project which partnered The Mesquite with three small town newspapers: The Boerne Star, the Devine News and Castroville Cypress.

“It will definitely increase internships, and it will also provide support to the smaller papers,” Moore said. “And any others that decide they want to be part of the project.”

Moore reflected on The Mesquite editors’ work and how their authentic approach to reporting has influenced their work throughout the years.

“Because many of you grew up in San Antonio, you have a real sense of investment in the community and are really, really insightful on how you tell the stories and whose voices [The Mesquite] pays attention to,” Moore said. “Often interviewing people who’d otherwise be left out of the story.”

Republished with permission.