Model and Strategy
As we embark on a historic inflection point for our democracy here in the U.S., and as citizens face rising authoritarianism globally, The GroundTruth Project strengthens democracies by bolstering a free press worldwide, and nationally. This year alone, GroundTruth will place over 250 journalists across the U.S. and in over a dozen countries, and will work with local newsroom partners to strengthen their financial models and increase sustainability of a free press everywhere.
GroundTruth also enables in-depth, local accountability reporting on democracies themselves, both in the U.S. and globally. Shining a light on voting rights, the census, and attacks on the press, GroundTruth’s emerging journalists go further to cover the stories others overlook, prioritizing historically marginalized communities. In 2020, our Report for America program will field dozens of reporters focused on statehouse issues and local elections in partnership with the Associated Press. GroundTruth will also continue Democracy Undone, an in-depth reporting project in partnership with The Atlantic that follows the rise of authoritarian leaders threatening democracy in countries across the globe.
Impact
With support from Battery Powered, The GroundTruth Project will dramatically expand on-the-ground, public service reporting that informs communities, and in turn, strengthen democracies, globally and nationally. GroundTruth will also expand coverage on democracies themselves, with a particular focus on uncovering solutions for bolstering democratic institutions and processes, from the census to free and fair elections.
GroundTruth creates impact along three pathways:
1) News deserts: We partner to create systems change, investing in the capacity of local newsrooms who “host” and employ the reporters we train. Newsrooms improve their ability to advance and support public service journalism that serves communities, and they gain skills and relationships to secure philanthropic support for their work in a time when traditional business models have failed. We take a baseline of reporting on an under-covered target issue, and then track how that reporting grows to meet the news demand.
2) Decision makers & communities: We reach a global audience (estimated 100M+ through our editorial partners), and that coverage makes a real impact. Legislators use our reporting to inform decisions and responses to global crises. Reporting puts pressure on governments to fix broken water systems or justice systems. Communities count on our coverage to tell their stories, and elevate local problems and solutions.
3) Emerging journalists: We track how our fellows and corps members are learning, what skills they gain, where their work gains traction, and what they do next. Our work strengthens the pipeline for journalists who report in the public interest and seek out under-told stories that others might miss. We provide hands-on experience they need to dig deep and hold power to account.
This month, a generous family stepped up to make a six figure gift to GroundTruth to jumpstart our fall 2020 democracy coverage. They have challenged us to identify matching support, so Battery Powered’s support would be highly leveraged.
Leadership
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Charles Sennott
CEO
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Kevin Grant
Chief Content Officer