The Knight Digital Media Center @ USC Annenberg was originally created in April 2006 by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to focus on helping journalists and news organizations succeed in the digital landscape. It is built on the foundation of the Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism (WKConline.org) which trained more than 750 professional journalist between 2000 and 2006, as well as providing at least 75,000 more journalists with access to resources and online training opportunities.

In 2012, the Knight Foundation broaden the KDMC mission to include community foundations and other nonprofits who are seeking to engage and inform their communities on critical issues. The KDMC provides resources and training in variety of formats including self-direted, web-based learning modules, instructor-led virtual classes and workshops throughout the country. In addition the KDMC offers consulting services for organizations in strategies for engaging and informing communities in the digital age.  

In addition to the Knight Foundation, support for KDMC comes from The Patterson Foundation, The McCormick Foundation and consulting services to news and community organizations.