Summary: A Savannah nonprofit newsroom, The Current, epitomizes a broader rise in nonprofit and independent local journalism as traditional outlets shrink. While challengers scramble for sustainable funding, these start-ups are digging into stories large outlets once missed, from government oversight to environmental and immigration issues. The movement offers hope for communities hungry for accountability, even as experts caution that it won’t fully replace legacy newspapers.
Margaret Coker, editor of The Current in Savannah, Georgia, is unapologetic about shaking up how local news is made. She recalls a morning interview with a state worker helping single mothers pursue health-care careers, then realizing the worker had never heard of a program that could aid them. The moment crystallized her mission: fill the investigative vacuum she believes is hollowing out coastal Georgia’s public service journalism.
The Current is one of hundreds of nonprofit and independent outlets sprouting across the country as traditional newsroom staffing and funding wither. In today’s media landscape, one grim statistic stands out: roughly one in three U.S. counties no longer has the equivalent of a single full-time reporter. And yet, communities are responding with gritty, mission-driven reporting that reaches readers where they are—via text alerts, newsletters, and online updates.
Nonprofit newsrooms have been multiplying alongside a growing ecosystem of support and collaboration. Beyond The Current, examples include the Tennessee Lookout, which interrogates state legislation and regulatory shifts; the New Bedford Light, which follows local industries and immigrant communities; Conecta Arizona, offering Spanish-language news through podcasts, a website, and text; and the Boulder Reporting Lab, which trained graduate students to scrutinize water pollution from a nearby coal plant. These outlets often rely on innovative distribution methods, partnerships with journalism schools, and, increasingly, the use of tools like data analysis and social media to reach audiences.
Industry observers describe an “explosion” of nonprofit media, aided by national funders and networks. The Institute for Nonprofit News grew from about 27 outlets in 2009 to more than 500 members. Those organizations help amplify coverage by reprinting or rebroadcasting stories to thousands of other media outlets. Some nonprofit operations have matured into stable, impactful newsrooms with significant scale: the Texas Tribune now reports with about 18 full-time staff; CalMatters has 31 reporters across California; Inside Climate News has won prestige including a Pulitzer with a team of 22; The Marshall Project operates with 23 reporters across multiple cities; and VTDigger has grown to 11 reporters and eight editors.
Founders and editors recount the personal origins of their outlets. The Current’s founders, Margaret Coker and Susan Catron, launched after the brutal killing of Ahmaud Arbery and the ensuing perception that local reporting had failed to uncover the full story. They poured their own time and resources into building a newsroom in Savannah, initially facing donor skepticism and even withdrawal of pledges when their first enterprise stories challenged established power. They eventually established a staff of four full-time reporters, a data reporter, a photographer, and a cadre of freelancers and interns. Their early days included working in a Pullman car in a museum courtyard—cute and affordable but with no running water—and later moving into a small but purposeful office space.
The broader funding question remains thorny. The nonprofit model has drawn support from major funders such as Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, the American Journalism Project, and Press Forward, among others. Programs like Report for America have placed hundreds of journalists into local outlets since 2017, largely supported by philanthropic money. While this infusion has kept many outlets afloat, critics worry about the sustainability of relying on philanthropy without reliable, enduring revenue streams. Experts emphasize the need for diverse income strategies—public events, subscriptions, memberships, and local philanthropy—to avoid vulnerability if grant cycles end or donor priorities shift.
Experts also caution that nonprofit and startup outlets will not wholly replace legacy newspapers. The goal is to complement and extend investigative work, offering depth in areas often neglected by larger outlets. The future likely holds a mix of models that preserve essential reporting while exploring new ways to engage audiences, including community training, accessible data visualization, and multilingual coverage for diverse populations.
What this means for readers and communities
– Local accountability journalism remains essential, with nonprofit outlets stepping in where traditional newsrooms have contracted.
– A sustainable mix of funding—grants, community support, events, and paid services—appears key to long-term resilience.
– Readers can expect more diverse voices and formats, including newsletters, texts, and online reports that reach people where they are.
As Margaret Coker puts it, the aim isn’t about politics; it’s about building a better society through informed, engaged communities. The surge in nonprofit and independent local journalism signals a renewed commitment to watchdog reporting at the municipal level and a recognition that communities benefit when journalism remains audacious, collaborative, and accessible. The question going forward is whether this mosaic of outlets can sustain momentum and continue to fill the gaps left by shrinking traditional newsrooms, while continuing to serve as a trusted mirror for everyday life. If these efforts endure, many communities may find renewed confidence in their public institutions and a clearer path toward accountability and improvement.