Mercer University gets $2 million for journalism program

Mercer University announced Tuesday the Knight Foundation has awarded $2 million to its Center for Collaborative Journalism program.

The Macon-based university said the money will be used for numerous initiatives that includes its ongoing program that allows students to work at local news outlets, a digital media program for high school students and a full-time community engagement coordinator that will assist in organizing community events.

Since the center opened in 2012, it has produced more than 600 stories for local, regional and national news outlets.