Front Page Foundation Wins $13,000 SPJ Grant
The Knoxville-based nonprofit will use the grant to fund a photojournalism ethics training program for students and local media professionals.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Society of Professional Journalists Foundation awarded a $13,000 grant to the Front Page Foundation, one of 12 grants issued nationwide. The funding will support a photojournalism ethics training program developed with the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Why it matters
The grant supports hands-on ethics training for university and community college students as well as local media professionals in Knoxville and East Tennessee. It also reflects the SPJ Foundation's broader effort to fund competitive journalism programs from a field of 104 applications.
The Front Page Foundation received the third-highest grant, $13,000, from a pool of $100,000 distributed across 12 awards chosen from 104 applications. Award amounts ranged from $1,500 to $15,000, and the source does not state how many participants the program will serve.
The players
Society of Professional Journalists Foundation
The philanthropic arm of the Society of Professional Journalists, which funds journalism education and training programs across the United States.
Front Page Foundation
A Knoxville-based nonprofit formed in 2015 as the fundraising arm of the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The details
The James "Jim" Thompson Photojournalism Program recognizes practitioners of ethical photojournalism and challenges participants to produce still photos and videos judged on storytelling merit. The first presentation took place in April 2025, and the program is planned to be offered again in the spring and fall semesters of 2027.
Timeline
April 2025: First presentation of the photojournalism ethics program.
November 2026: SPJ Foundation announced $100,000 in competitive grants.
Spring and fall semesters of 2027: Program scheduled to be offered again.
Season Trajectory
The SPJ Foundation's competitive grant round this year drew 104 applications and distributed $100,000 across 12 awards, with the Front Page Foundation earning the third-highest amount. The award extends the foundation's support for ethics-focused training in regional journalism programs.
Students at universities and community colleges in the Knoxville area, as well as local media professionals, can take part in the photojournalism ethics program when it is offered. Interested participants should check the Front Page Foundation's program information for registration details ahead of the 2027 sessions.
The takeaway
Ethics training for photojournalists is being funded at the regional level, giving students and working journalists in East Tennessee a practical way to build skills in storytelling and responsible image-making. Readers interested in journalism careers can look for similar programs through local SPJ chapters.
What happens next
The photojournalism ethics program is scheduled to be offered again in the spring and fall semesters of 2027.
Further reading
Explore more education scholarships to see how other grant programs support students and professionals.
More information
Find Front Page Foundation program information for details on the photojournalism ethics training.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nashville Tennessean.
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