Facebook and its partner, America's Local Media Association have reported on what publishers are doing with the US$100 million it has put into COVID-19 reporting.

Projects included extra staff for a new website, newsletters and removal of a paywall on coronavirus stories.

Facebook global news partnerships vice president Campbell Brown has announced an extra US$100 million for the news industry - US$25 million in emergency grant funding for local news through the Facebook Journalism Project and US$75 million in "additional marketing spend to move money over to news organisations around the world".

Some funding from the COVID-19 Community Network grant programme will be directed to publishers "most in need in the hardest hit countries".

Brown says the first round of these grants went to 50 local newsrooms in the US and Canada. Among them the Post and Courier (South Carolina) took down its paywall for coronavirus stories and will use the grant to cover travel costs and remote work capabilities to extend coverage; the Southeast Missourian is introducing newsletters highlighting coronavirus coverage; and new Texas news website El Paso Matters is hiring freelance reporters and translators to expand coverage of coronavirus.

Local Media Association chief executive Nancy Lane says the money will not only help keep journalists reporting amidst the crisis, but also fuel opportunities to accelerate business transformation.

"Local news organizations, especially hyper-local news organizations including those serving black and other underserved communities, have experienced challenges with the sustainability and distribution of news and information in the current media environment," she says. "COVID-19 has exacerbated an already existing crisis and our jobs have just gotten tougher.

"If people needed more proof that local journalism is a vital public service, they're getting it now."