CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization covering California state politics and policies, launched in 2015.[1][2] Founders cited the decline in coverage of state politics in the decade leading up to the founding of CalMatters as a major motivation.[3] As of 2017, it was becoming one of the largest nonprofit newsrooms in the country raising 90 percent of its funding from individuals with only some foundation support.[4] It has also credited its partnership with the LA Times and Capitol Public Radio, among others, as helping to grow the organization quickly.[4]
 | |
| Formation | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit (501(c)(3)) |
| Purpose | Covering politics |
| Headquarters | Sacramento, CA |
Region | California |
| Subsidiaries | The Markup |
| Affiliations | Institute for Nonprofit News |
| Website | Official website  |
Upon Donald Trump taking office, the website launched a project called "Trump v. California" which highlighted the criticisms made by the president against the heavily Democratic state.[5]
CalMatters launched a rebranded website in 2019.[6]
In November 2023, Andrew Donohue was named investigative editor and has been hiring to grow the size of his investigative team to five reporters from three in 2023.[7]
In 2024, nonprofit news outlet The Markup merged newsrooms with CalMatters, citing complementary funders and expertise, with The Markup having a more technical and narrower focus on national and global technology policy.[8]
Awards
edit- Edward R. Murrow Award (Corporation for Public Broadcasting)
- EPPY Awards
- 2022 Winner, Best Online-Only News Website in the Nation
- 2019 Winners:
- Best Feature Story
- Best Innovation Project
- Online Journalism Awards (OJAs)
- 2018 First Place, Feature
- San Francisco / Northern California Emmy Awards
- 2024 Winner, Criminal justice
- 2023 Winner, Trial by Fire
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Biasotti, Tony (June 5, 2015). "A new nonprofit hopes to fill a void in coverage of California". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Ellis, Justin (June 8, 2015). "CALmatters aims to make people interested in state government and fill a gap in California". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Doctor, Ken (February 17, 2015). "What are they thinking? CALmatters wants to shake up California statehouse". Politico.
- ^ a b Westphal, David (October 30, 2017). "Journalism's New Patrons: California nonprofit targets individual donors". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Schmidt, Christine (July 3, 2017). "Two years in, state government site CALmatters is collaborating to make a name for itself". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Schmidt, Christine (July 10, 2019). "How CALmatters is growing out of its startup stage". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Peck, G. A. (2024). Making the Team. Editor & Publisher, 157(2), 46–49.
- ^ Scire, Sarah (April 25, 2024). "Seeking "innovative," "stable," and "interested": How The Markup and CalMatters matched up". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 2024-06-22.