Jump to content

States Newsroom

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Michigan Advance)
States Newsroom
Formation2019
Type501(c)3[1]
Subsidiaries39
Affiliations11
Budget (2024)
$22 million
Staff
220 (2024)
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

States Newsroom is a left-leaning nonprofit news organization with newsrooms or a partner news organization in all 50 U.S. states.[2][3][4]

History

[edit]

States Newsroom grew out of NC Policy Watch, a progressive think tank in North Carolina founded in 2004 by Chris Fitzsimon, who is now States Newsroom's director and publisher.[5][6] In 2017, the project expanded, using the Hopewell Fund as a fiscal sponsor until it received its own nonprofit status in 2019 (Hopewell did not provide any funding for the project).[7][8][2][9]

In December 2021, States Newsroom announced plans to nearly double its presence from 25 states to 40 states.[4] The organization reported raising $10 million in 2020. States Newsroom had anticipated revenue of more than $27 million by the end of 2021. By December 2021, it listed all of its donor who gave more than $500 on its website.[4]

Organization

[edit]

States Newsroom takes care of funding, human resources and digital support, leaving the newsrooms to focus on content, though some do their own fundraising as well.[10]

In 2023, the Pew Charitable Trusts transferred its Stateline news service to States Newsroom with $3 million to help with the transition. The merger will allow the newsrooms to more easily compare ways that different states are responding to similar challenges.[7]

As of 2024, it reported having 220 full-time employees, with an annual budget of more than $22 million.[2] It grew from five affiliates upon its 2019 launch to 39 freestanding newsrooms at 11 partner outlets covering all 50 states by early 2024.[2] It typically has 4-6 journalists per newsroom.[2]

Editorial standards

[edit]

Opinion pieces are clearly labeled.[2] Op-eds and commentary lean left but can include perspectives from anyone except candidates or political officeholders.[2] Four reporters interviewed by Columbia Journalism Review said there was almost no interference from the national office, beyond the mandate to cover state politics and policy.[2]

States Newsroom accepts no corporate donations and publicly shares the sources of all contributions above $1,000.[2][11]

Syndication

[edit]

States Newsroom allows its articles to be republished for free under a creative commons license.[10][2][4] Some community-run newspapers that cannot all afford subscriptions to wire services like the Associated Press appreciate the free, high-quality journalism.[4]

Newsrooms

[edit]
"Virginia Mercury" redirects here. For the flowering plant, see Acalypha virginica.

The 39 newsrooms under the States Newsroom umbrella include the Alabama Reflector,[12] Alaska Beacon,[13] Arkansas Advocate,[13] Arizona Mirror,[14] Colorado Newsline,[15] Daily Montanan,[16] the Florida Phoenix,[17] Georgia Recorder,[18] Idaho Capital Sun,[13] Indiana Capital Chronicle,[13] Iowa Capital Dispatch,[2] Kansas Reflector,[13] Kentucky Lantern,[19] Louisiana Illuminator,[13] Maine Morning Star,[20] Michigan Advance,[8] the Minnesota Reformer,[5] the Missouri Independent,[2] NC Newsline,[21] Nebraska Examiner,[13] Nevada Current,[22] New Hampshire Bulletin,[23] New Jersey Monitor,[24] North Dakota Monitor,[2] Oklahoma Voice,[25] Ohio Capital Journal,[13] Oregon Capital Chronicle,[26] Rhode Island Current,[27] Pennsylvania Capital-Star,[28] Source New Mexico,[20] South Dakota Searchlight,[13] Tennessee Lookout,[13] Utah News Dispatch,[13] Viriginia Mercury,[29] Washington State Standard,[30] West Virginia Watch,[31] and Wisconsin Examiner.[32]

Partner organizations

[edit]
See also: Institute for Nonprofit News

The 11 nonprofit news organizations that partner with States Newsroom include CalMatters,[2] Capitol News Illinois,[33] CommonWealth Beacon,[34] CT Mirror,[35] Honolulu Civil Beat,[2] Mississippi Today,[36] New York Focus,[37] Spotlight Delaware,[2] The Texas Tribune,[2] The Vermont Digger,[7] and WyoFile.[38]

Reception

[edit]

In January 2020, NewsGuard criticized the transparency of the organization's finances. States Newsroom responded with a defense of their model and a critique of NewsGuard's methodology for elevating sites that promote conspiracy theories and white nationalism above some innovative sites that do more factual reporting.[39] By December 2021, States Newsroom listed all of its donor who gave more than $500 on its website.[4] A 2024 study by NewsGuard continued to categorize State Newsroom as a partisan-backed outlet designed to look like an apolitical one, which State Newsroom disputed and noted their collaborations with ProPublica and the New York Times in addition to the 'hundreds of awards' their newsrooms have received.[11]

In July 2020, the 16 newsrooms of States Newsroom were included but then removed from a map created by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism of "hyperpartisan sites... masquerading as local news." States Newsroom's national editor successfully argued to Nieman that the funding model was much more transparent and that many staffers for the group are longtime journalists.[40][41] In 2023, Nieman Foundation for Journalism described the newsrooms as being 'studded' with experienced journalists.[7]

In 2022, Pew described nonprofit newsrooms, including States Newsroom, as being launched to fill a gap in legacy media, with nonprofit news outlets employing twenty percent of statehouse reporters.[42]

In April 2024, Cameron Joseph praised States Newsroom in the Columbia Journalism Review, writing that they "are nothing like the 'pink slime' organizations that pass off partisan propaganda as local news. Many of the journalists running the local newsrooms...had previously been at major state newspapers. The four States Newsroom reporters I spoke to all said they had broad leeway to run their operations as they see fit, with almost no interference from the national operation beyond a broad mandate to cover state politics and policy."[2]

In May 2024, States Newsroom's outlet in Alabama, the Alabama Reflector, was selected as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.[43] Brian Lyman of the Alabama Reflector was recognized "For brave, clear and pointed columns that challenge ever-more-repressive state policies flouting democratic norms and targeting vulnerable populations, written with the command and authority of a veteran political observer."[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "States Newsroom - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Joseph, Cameron (April 5, 2024). "This nonprofit has newsrooms in all 50 state capitals. Is it the future of state journalism?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Kobin, Billy (August 3, 2023). "Maine's latest newsroom will add to growing ideological media landscape". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Izadi, Elahe (December 6, 2021). "The troubling new void in local journalism — and the nonprofits trying to fill it". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Borzi, Pat (January 14, 2020). "The Minnesota Reformer has launched. So what the hell is the Minnesota Reformer?". MinnPost. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Rickert, Chris (January 4, 2020). "With 2020 in sight, dark-money sites look to distribute their versions of the news". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Scire, Sarah (March 8, 2023). "Pew's Stateline finds a new home with nonprofit States Newsroom". Nieman Lab. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Barrett, Malachi (November 9, 2019). "News Websites with Political Ties Spread Across Michigan". www.governing.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Massoglia, Anna (May 22, 2020). "'Dark money' networks hide political agendas behind fake news sites". OpenSecrets.
  10. ^ a b Fu, Angela (February 25, 2021). "Where state and local coverage are actually expanding". Poynter. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Fischer, Sara (June 11, 2024). "Dark money news outlets outpacing local daily newspapers". Axios. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Hitson, Hadley (May 26, 2023). "Alabama Reflector joins Montgomery mediascape, boosting coverage of state politics, policy". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "States pledged hundreds of troops and spent millions to help Texas at the border so far this year". The Republic News. July 15, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "'False and misleading claims': Kari Lake and Mark Finchem lose in court — again" – via MSN.com.
  15. ^ "Q&A With Quentin Young, Editor of Recently Launched Colorado Newsline". 5280. July 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Miller, Blair (August 1, 2024). "Former President Trump to hold Montana rally with Sheehy in Gallatin County". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Smith, Adam (July 5, 2018). "Welcome a new news outlet to Tallahassee". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  18. ^ Xu, Meimei (July 31, 2024). "Federal judge in Alabama lets Title IX rule protecting LGBTQ kids go forward in Georgia". WABE. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Lucke, Jamie (July 17, 2024). "On the trail of J.D. Vance's Kentucky mountain roots". WFMZ.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "At least 973 Native American children died at U.S.-run boarding schools between 1871-1969". Yahoo News. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "States Newsroom Relaunches NC Policy Watch as NC Newsline". States Newsroom. April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Report details, confirms Nevada prison system missteps during pandemic". March 11, 2022.
  23. ^ "In wake of sweeping school funding rulings, NH lawmakers pursue legislative fixes". New Hampshire Public Radio. February 29, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  24. ^ DeFilippo, Dana. "Sen. Bob Menendez 'put his power up for sale,' federal prosecutors tell jurors". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Clemency recommended for Oklahoma death row inmate ahead of scheduled execution". KOSU.
  26. ^ Chronicle, BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital (June 14, 2024). "Oregon still fixing state employee payroll system after problems last year". Oregon Capital Insider. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  27. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Fries, Amanda. "Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro among contenders for Kamala Harris VP pick. Here's why". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  29. ^ "Author: Virginia Mercury". WTOP News. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  30. ^ "A chatbot spread falsehood about WA elections. The secretary of state wants it fixed". KNKX Public Radio. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  31. ^ "West Virginia Watch to launch statewide news outlet". The Register-Herald. July 7, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  32. ^ Rickert, Chris (January 4, 2020). "With 2020 in sight, dark-money sites look to distribute their versions of the news". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  33. ^ "Heidi Mueller named new Illinois DCFS director - StLouis.city". January 3, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  34. ^ Gill, Kathy (November 14, 2023). "South Carolina is the latest States Newsroom affiliate – The Moderate Voice". Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  35. ^ "How Connecticut is leading the charge in sustainable wind energy". Yahoo News. July 12, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  36. ^ Harrison, Bobby (July 5, 2024). "Mississippi judge blocks Biden attempt to ensure LGBTQ+ medical treatment • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "New York Focus - Bias and Credibility". Media Bias/Fact Check. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  38. ^ Clendenon, Sarah (July 10, 2024). "Idaho and Wyoming: Media Parallels". Idaho Dispatch. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  39. ^ "States Newsroom Network". NewsGuard. January 29, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  40. ^ Shumway, Julia (July 24, 2020). "Partisan groups spend big to deliver 'news'". Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  41. ^ Mahone, Jessica; Napoli, Philip (July 13, 2020). "Hundreds of hyperpartisan sites are masquerading as local news. This map shows if there's one near you". Nieman Lab. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  42. ^ Schearer, Elisa (April 5, 2022). "Total Number of U.S. Statehouse Reporters Rises, but Fewer Are on the Beat Full Time". Pew Research Center. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  43. ^ Demarco, Marisa (May 7, 2024). "Pulitzer Board recognizes Alabama Reflector editor in commentary category". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  44. ^ "Finalist: Brian Lyman of the Alabama Reflector". The Pulitzer Prizes.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=States_Newsroom&oldid=1239577851"