Messages compete constantly for our attention, trust, money, votes, personal information, and help spreading their claims.

Some provide useful information or make honest arguments. Others exaggerate, conceal important facts, imitate trusted sources, or push people to act before they have time to think.

A deceptive message may look like a news story, political appeal, advertisement, charity request, social media post, fundraising email, text from a familiar organization, or warning from a government agency. Artificial intelligence makes it easier to produce convincing images, voices, websites, and messages, but many of the underlying tactics are not new.

Learning to recognize those tactics does not require distrusting everything. It requires slowing down when a message tries to prevent careful thought.

For organizations working to strengthen consumer protections, improve enforcement, hold companies and institutions accountable, and support people harmed by fraud, see Scam Prevention and Consumer Protection.

In this guide: Understand the message | Evaluate particular appeals | Pause, verify, and respond | Related Plainly, Garbl resources | Key government resources

Understand the message

Persuasion is not always deception

Propaganda, advertising, political advocacy, fundraising, and scams are not the same.

Advertising tries to sell something. Political advocacy tries to influence public opinion or action. Fundraising asks people to support a candidate, organization, campaign, charity, or cause. Propaganda promotes a viewpoint, often by selecting and shaping information to influence emotions and beliefs.

Any of them can be accurate or misleading. They become deceptive when they hide who is communicating, impersonate a trusted source, make false or unsupported claims, conceal important conditions, or misrepresent what will happen after someone responds.

A scam goes further. It uses deception to get money, personal information, account access, property, or something else of value.

The categories can overlap. A fraudulent donation request may use propaganda, marketing techniques, political language, and a fake organizational identity at the same time.

The important question is not simply what kind of message it is.

Ask:
What is this message trying to make me believe, feel, give, buy, reveal, or do?

Notice when a message is pushing your emotions

Emotion is part of ordinary human communication. A message is not false merely because it makes people angry, afraid, hopeful, sympathetic, or enthusiastic.

But strong emotion can make verification feel unnecessary or even disloyal.

Be especially cautious when a message tries to provoke:

• Fear about an immediate threat

• Anger toward a person or group

• Guilt about failing to help

• Excitement about an unusual opportunity

• Affection or loyalty toward someone asking for help

• Outrage that encourages immediate sharing

• Panic about an account, debt, arrest, fine, family emergency, or expiring benefit

• Certainty that only foolish, corrupt, or uncaring people would question the claim

Ask yourself:

• What am I feeling?

• What does that feeling make me want to do?

• Has the message given me enough reliable information to justify that action?

Do not confuse an emotional response with evidence.

Be suspicious of manufactured urgency

Urgency is sometimes legitimate. Elections close. Emergencies happen. Matching grants end. Event registration fills. People facing danger may need help immediately.

But urgency is also one of the most common ways to prevent scrutiny.

Warning signs include:

• Act now.

• Do not tell anyone.

• Stay on the line.

• Respond before midnight.

• Your account will be closed.

• You will be arrested or fined.

• Only a few opportunities remain.

• This is your last chance.

• Send this to everyone immediately.

• Do not let the other side find out.

• We need your donation in the next few minutes.

A deadline stated in a message may be real, exaggerated, repeatedly renewed, or entirely invented.

Pause before responding. A legitimate organization should be able to withstand the time needed for you to verify its identity and claims.

Verify outside the message

Do not rely on the contact information, links, buttons, or instructions in a message you are trying to verify.

Instead:

• Type the organization’s known website address yourself.

• Use an official app you already have.

• Call a number from a bank statement, membership card, government website, or other reliable source.

• Contact the person through a number or account you have used before.

• Search for the organization independently.

• Ask someone you trust to review the request.

Scammers can imitate caller identification, email addresses, logos, invoices, websites, social media accounts, government notices, and messages from people you know. A familiar appearance does not establish a familiar source.

The Federal Trade Commission advises people who receive unexpected messages not to use the links or telephone numbers provided in them. Contact the organization through a website, email address, or telephone number you already know is genuine.

Check who is speaking

Before believing or acting on a message, look for a clear and verifiable source.

Ask:

• Who created or paid for this message?

• Is the person or organization clearly identified?

• Does the website address match the organization’s official domain?

• Is the social media account genuine?

• Is the message from the organization itself, a contractor, a fundraising company, an affiliate, or an unrelated group with a similar name?

• Does the message explain where the money or information will go?

• Can its claims be confirmed elsewhere?

Be cautious when a message borrows authority from:

• A government agency

• A bank or payment service

• A news organization

• A political candidate

• A charity

• A police department or court

• A well-known business

• A religious or community leader

• A family member, friend, colleague, or romantic interest

Impersonators depend on the reputation of someone else. They want the borrowed identity to do the persuading for them.

Examine the evidence, not just the claim

A confident statement is not necessarily a documented statement.

Look for:

• Links to original reports or records

• Named and qualified sources

• Dates and relevant context

• Evidence that supports the precise claim being made

• Confirmation from independent and credible sources

• Corrections or explanations when information changes

Watch for:

• Statistics without a source

• Screenshots without a link or context

• Cropped videos

• Quotations without dates or surrounding words

• Unnamed experts or insiders

• Dramatic personal stories treated as proof of a broad claim

• Images that do not show what the caption says they show

• A headline that makes a stronger claim than the article

• Links that cite another summary instead of the original evidence

• Repetition of the same unsupported claim across connected websites and accounts

Several sources are not truly independent when they all copied the same original post.

Notice what is missing

Misleading messages do not always state something plainly false. They may omit facts that would change how readers understand the claim.

Ask:

• What information would I need before making this decision?

• Are costs, fees, subscriptions, recurring donations, or conditions clearly disclosed?

• Does a political appeal identify the committee receiving the money?

• Does an advertisement distinguish evidence from testimonials?

• Does a news-like page identify its sponsor?

• Does a fundraising request explain how contributions will be used?

• Does the message acknowledge uncertainty, limitations, or competing evidence?

• Is it attacking the source of criticism instead of answering the criticism?

Fine print should not reverse the apparent meaning of the main message.

Think before sharing

A deceptive message does not have to take your money to use you successfully. It may want you to share the message with others.

Before sharing, ask:

• Have I read beyond the headline?

• Do I know the original source?

• Is the information current?

• Does the link support the post’s description?

• Am I sharing because it is verified or because it confirms what I already believe?

• Would I share it if it supported the opposing side?

• Could sharing expose someone to fraud, harassment, or a false accusation?

• Is a warning so vague that recipients cannot verify it?

• Would a direct link to a reliable source be more useful?

Deleting an unverified message is often more responsible than forwarding it “just in case.”

Watch for requests for money or financial access

Stop and verify when someone asks you to:

• Buy gift cards and provide the card numbers.

• Wire money.

• Send cryptocurrency.

• Move money to “protect” it.

• Pay through an unfamiliar payment app.

• Deposit a check and return part of the money.

• Provide a bank password, verification code, or account access.

• Pay an unexpected fee to receive a prize, job, loan, grant, inheritance, or refund.

• Donate through a link in an unsolicited message.

• Send money to someone you have not met in person.

• Keep the transaction secret.

A request may be fraudulent even when the story attached to it seems plausible. Verify the identity and the transaction separately.

Contact a bank, credit union, credit card company, or payment service immediately if money has already been sent or account information has been disclosed. Speed may affect whether a payment can be stopped or an account protected.

Evaluate particular appeals

Links to government services and records mentioned in this guide appear under Key government resources at the end.

Evaluate political fundraising appeals

Political messages often use urgency, fear, anger, loyalty, and claims of emergency. Those emotions may reflect genuine political stakes, but they can also discourage donors from examining the request.

Before donating:

• Leave the email, text, advertisement, or social media post.

• Find the candidate’s or organization’s official website independently.

• Identify the committee or organization receiving the contribution.

• Read the donation page before submitting payment.

• Look for preselected recurring-donation boxes.

• Check the amount, frequency, and recipient.

• Save the confirmation and review later statements.

• Search federal political committees and campaign-finance reports through the Federal Election Commission.

• Use the appropriate state campaign-finance agency for state and local political committees.

A message that mentions a candidate does not necessarily come from the candidate. A political action committee may support a cause or candidate, oppose one, or raise money using their names.

Strong political agreement is not a substitute for checking who will receive the donation and how the group spends its money.

Evaluate charitable and social-action appeals

Crises generate both legitimate appeals and opportunistic imitations. Fraudulent requests may appear after disasters, wars, mass violence, deportation actions, protests, medical emergencies, or other events that create an understandable desire to help quickly.

Before donating:

• Confirm the organization’s exact name and website.

• Search for it independently instead of following an unsolicited link.

• Review its purpose, leadership, finances, and recent work.

• Determine whether the request comes from the organization or an outside fundraiser.

• Check whether a donation is tax-deductible rather than assuming it is.

• Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to verify federal tax-exempt status and review available filings.

• Check state charity-registration records when appropriate.

• Be cautious about newly created crowdfunding campaigns when you cannot verify the organizer or recipient.

• Pay by a method that provides a record and reasonable protections.

• Review the receipt and later account statements.

Tax-exempt status does not prove that an organization is effective, transparent, or aligned with your priorities. It verifies only part of what donors may need to know.

Likewise, a legitimate grassroots or mutual-aid effort may not be a registered charity. In those cases, verification may depend more heavily on trusted community relationships, transparent organizers, clear purposes, and visible accounting.

Advertising and sponsored content

Advertising can appear in search results, social media feeds, videos, podcasts, newsletters, news websites, influencer posts, and pages designed to resemble independent articles.

Look for labels such as:

• Ad

• Advertisement

• Sponsored

• Promoted

• Paid partnership

• Partner content

• Affiliate link

Then ask:

• Who paid for it?

• What is being sold or promoted?

• Does the person recommending it receive money, products, commissions, or other benefits?

• Are claims supported by independent evidence?

• Is the advertisement imitating a news report or consumer review?

• Are testimonials typical, verifiable, and relevant?

• Are price, renewal, cancellation, and refund terms clear?

• Is the advertiser creating a problem or fear that its product conveniently promises to solve?

A disclosure does not make a claim true. It helps readers understand the relationship behind the message.

Propaganda and coordinated persuasion

Propaganda often presents a selective picture designed to build loyalty, hostility, resignation, or action. It may contain accurate facts while arranging them in a misleading way.

Common techniques include:

• Repeating a slogan until it feels established

• Reducing a complex issue to a single enemy or cause

• Attaching insulting or heroic labels to people and groups

• Appealing to patriotism, identity, fear, resentment, or belonging

• Presenting only evidence that supports the preferred conclusion

• Describing disagreement as betrayal

• Creating the impression that nearly everyone agrees

• Portraying the source as the only one that can be trusted

• Flooding the information environment with conflicting claims

• Using false accounts or coordinated networks to simulate public support

• Mixing verifiable information with rumor and invention

Propaganda does not always try to make people believe one precise falsehood. It may try to make them distrust every source, abandon careful judgment, or believe that truth cannot be known.

The answer is not automatic disbelief. It is comparison, verification, context, and attention to who benefits from the message.

When artificial intelligence is involved

Artificial intelligence can create or alter text, photographs, illustrations, audio, and video. It can imitate a person’s voice or writing style, generate false identities, and quickly personalize messages.

Do not rely on odd fingers, strange punctuation, or other supposed clues as proof that AI created something. Those clues are inconsistent and will become less useful as the technology improves.

Concentrate instead on the claim and its source:

• Can the event, quotation, image, or recording be confirmed?

• Did the supposed speaker publish or acknowledge it?

• Is there an original and traceable source?

• Do credible independent sources report the same event?

• Is someone using the material to demand immediate money, information, or action?

• Does the message rely on the apparent realism of the content rather than verifiable evidence?

Something can be authentic and still misleading. It can also be generated by AI and used honestly, such as a clearly labeled illustration. The question is how the material is represented and used.

Pause, verify, and respond

Links to government services and records mentioned in this guide appear under Key government resources at the end.

A quick pause-and-check routine

Before you believe, buy, donate, reveal information, or share:

Pause
Do not let urgency make the decision.

Identify
Determine who created, sent, sponsored, or paid for the message.

Leave
Exit the message before contacting the supposed person or organization.

Verify
Use an independently located website, telephone number, account, public record, or credible source.

Examine
Check the evidence, context, conditions, recipient, payment method, and missing information.

Ask
Consult someone you trust when the request is unusual, emotional, secretive, or financially significant.

Decide
Act only after the message—not merely its appearance or emotional force—has earned your trust.

When you encounter a possible scam

Do not be embarrassed about asking for help. Scammers deliberately exploit ordinary human qualities, including trust, affection, fear, generosity, loyalty, and hope.

Depending on what happened:

• Stop communicating with the suspected scammer.

• Do not send additional money to recover earlier losses.

• Contact the financial institution or payment service involved.

• Change compromised passwords and use different passwords for different accounts.

• Protect accounts with multifactor authentication.

• Save messages, receipts, account information, telephone numbers, website addresses, and screenshots.

• Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

• Report identity theft through the federal IdentityTheft.gov service.

• Submit complaints involving financial products or companies to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

• Report internet-enabled crimes to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

• Contact your state attorney general or consumer-protection agency.

• Notify the impersonated organization.

• Contact local law enforcement when money, threats, stalking, or immediate danger is involved.

People who have already lost money may be targeted again by someone claiming to recover it. Verify recovery services independently, and do not pay an unexpected caller who promises to retrieve stolen funds.

The responsibility does not belong only to individuals

Media literacy helps people resist manipulation, but warnings cannot substitute for effective public protections.

Governments, businesses, banks, payment services, telecommunications companies, political committees, fundraising firms, advertisers, and online platforms also have responsibilities.

They can:

• Verify advertisers and fundraisers

• Identify impersonation and coordinated fraud

• Respond quickly to reports

• Make recurring payments and donation terms clear

• Provide effective ways to dispute unauthorized transactions

• Slow or flag suspicious transfers

• Preserve evidence for investigations

• Share information about organized fraud

• Enforce consumer-protection and campaign-finance laws

• Stop profiting from deceptive advertisements and accounts

• Design services that do not place every risk on the user

“Be careful” is useful advice. It is not a complete public policy.

Related Plainly, Garbl resources

Truth Toolkit
Fact-checking organizations and tools for investigating questionable claims.

Evaluating the Evaluators
How organizations assess news accuracy, bias, and credibility.

Topic-Based News Sources
Credible reporting organized by public issue.

Political, Hate, and Digital Violence Prevention
Organizations addressing political intimidation, hate, digital abuse, and related threats.

Scam Prevention and Consumer Protection
A companion guide to organizations advocating for stronger protections, enforcement, accountability, and support for people harmed by fraud.

Key government resources

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice
Guidance on scams, impersonation, phishing, shopping, donating, reporting fraud, and identity theft.

Federal Election Commission
Federal campaign-finance records, political committee information, contribution rules, and enforcement information.

IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
Federal tax-exempt status, filings, determination letters, and related records for nonprofit organizations.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Information and complaints involving financial products, payment services, fraud, and scams.

IdentityTheft.gov
Federal guidance and a personalized recovery plan for people reporting identity theft.

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
Reporting for internet-enabled fraud and other cybercrime.

USA.gov State Consumer Protection Offices
Contact information for state consumer-protection agencies.

Share

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Discussions about media bias often get stuck on familiar terms: objectivity, fairness, balance. Those values matter. But they rest on something more basic and more important.

Accuracy.

Accuracy is the foundation of journalism. Without it, objectivity becomes meaningless; balance turns into false equivalence; and fairness becomes a performance rather than a standard.

Facts are facts. There is no such thing as “true facts” or “alternative facts.” There are facts, interpretations of facts, and sometimes claims that do not hold up.

Understanding that distinction is one of the most useful skills a news reader can develop.

Bias is not the opposite of accuracy

One common misunderstanding is the idea that if reporting is factual, it must be unbiased—or that bias automatically means dishonesty.

Neither is true.

All journalism involves judgment:

• Which stories are covered

• Which facts are emphasized

• Which voices are quoted

• How much context is provided

Those choices reflect values and perspectives. That’s what people usually mean by left, right, or centrist in news writing and analysis. These labels describe patterns of framing, not whether facts are invented.

Bias does not require lying.
And accuracy does not require neutrality.

For example, I approach this topic from a progressive perspective. That lens shapes how I notice news angles and viewpoints, but it does not diminish my attention to whether the reporting is accurate.

What competent reporting actually tries to do

Reporters routinely work under time pressure, competing claims, incomplete information, and evolving facts—while still expected to verify what can be verified and say clearly what cannot.

When reporters are doing their jobs well, they are not simply “covering both sides.”

They are also:

• Checking claims against available evidence

• Questioning sources when the information does not add up

• Following up to verify or correct details

• Reporting when claims cannot be independently confirmed

• Naming misinformation (inaccurate information) or disinformation (deliberately false or misleading information, aka lies) when appropriate

• Providing accurate clarifications and details

This work is often invisible to readers. You usually see only the final version, not the phone calls, emails, documents, and corrections that shaped it. And it’s often done on deadline within hours—or a day or two if it’s not breaking news.

That does not mean journalism is flawless. It does mean that verification—not balance for its own sake—is a professional obligation.

Objectivity, fairness, and balance, used carefully

These traditional values still matter, but they are often misunderstood.

• Objectivity does not mean having no point of view. It means approaching reporting with discipline, evidence, and openness to correction.

• Fairness does not mean treating all claims as equally credible.

• Balance does not mean giving equal weight to unequal evidence.

Accuracy comes first. Everything else depends on it.

Trust—but don’t outsource your judgment

Trust here doesn’t mean believing everything you read. Or that you should simply trust that reporters always get it right. It means understanding how facts are established and how to judge them for yourself.

A healthy approach sits between blind trust and blanket cynicism:

• On issues that really matter to you, check more than one reliable source.

• Notice where outlets agree on facts but differ in emphasis or interpretation.

• Pay attention to corrections, sourcing, and transparency.

Doing this is not distrust. It is engagement.

Tools that help readers check media for accuracy, bias, and reliability

Various online tools can help readers check news accuracy and better understand media credibility, if used thoughtfully.

These tools don’t tell you what to think. They help you see how information is presented, what standards are being applied, and what questions to ask next.

No single rating or chart can settle everything. The real value comes from understanding what each tool measures and what it does not.

Specific tools and Plainly, Garbl resource links appear at the end of this piece for readers who want to put this approach into practice.

A practical reader’s checklist

So, when reading or watching news, especially analysis or commentary, try asking:

• What claims here are factual, and what is interpretation?

• What evidence is cited, and what are the sources of information?

• What context is included or missing?

• Is uncertainty acknowledged where facts are unclear?

• Does the outlet correct errors publicly?

And one more question worth asking: How do your own biases affect how you react to how a news article reports the facts?

These questions work regardless of whether a source leans left, right, or somewhere in between—or skews further in one direction.

Why this matters

Claims that “all media are biased” can slide quickly into “nothing is knowable.” That way lies cynicism and disengagement.

A better approach is simpler:

• Expect accuracy.

• Recognize perspective.

• Verify what matters.

• Stay engaged.

Recognizing how journalism works—at its best and at its limits—makes readers stronger, not more suspicious.

And in an era when misinformation and disinformation circulate freely, that strength matters.

Related tools and resources

For readers who want to apply the approach described above, the following tools and guides can help.

For fact-checking, I use FactCheck.org and PolitiFact. For evaluating media bias, reliability, and credibility, I use Ad Fontes Media and NewsGuard.

These resources are most useful when used together—and when readers understand what each one measures and what it does not.

I encourage you to learn more about those tools and others at these Plainly, Garbl resources:

• Evaluating the Evaluators: A Guide to Media Analysis & Bias Rating Resources
  Understanding the watchdogs that track journalism’s trustworthiness

• The Truth Toolkit: Fact-Checking Resources for Informed Resistance
  Understanding where to find reliable fact-checking resources is more critical than ever.

For guidance on choosing multiple news sources—including progressive, moderate, conservative, nonprofit, and local outlets—see the Media & Journalism Tools section. I use the resources above to help evaluate, monitor, and recommend the news media I rely on.

PDF version: To save or print a PDF copy of this resource, click the three dots above the image at the top of the page, then choose Open as PDF. Links in the PDF should remain clickable on your device, but the online version is the best place to find the most current links and updates.

If this resource resonates with you, please share it with friends.

Share

Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe now

This guide highlights Washington and Northwest media outlets that publish fact-based reporting, analysis, commentary, or civic essays. The mix varies by outlet, so readers should distinguish straight reporting from opinion, advocacy, and analysis.

It complements — not replaces — following and supporting local news sources, including community newspapers, local TV news, and public or commercial radio. They remain important to covering schools, local government, courts, and everyday civic life.

This is a selective list of outlets rooted in Washington or the broader Pacific Northwest that publish original reporting, features, analysis, or commentary with clear editorial standards.

For a broader inventory of nonprofit community and regional outlets, see Plainly, Garbl: Nonprofit News Media–Local Coverage (Washington State) and Regional Coverage (Pacific Northwest).

Independent and Nonprofit Journalism

Post Alley
Seattle-based writers’ collective publishing edited reporting, essays, and commentary from a Northwest perspective.

InvestigateWest
Independent investigative nonprofit producing in-depth reporting on environment, health, and government accountability in the Pacific Northwest.

Cascadia Daily News
Locally owned Northwest Washington newsroom covering Whatcom and Skagit counties, with daily reporting, features, and columns.

Salish Current
Nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom based in Bellingham, providing independent, fact-based local reporting and civic commentary for Whatcom, San Juan, and Skagit counties.

Washington State Standard
Nonprofit, nonpartisan statehouse newsroom providing original reporting and analysis on Washington state government and politics. Part of the States Newsroom national network.

Olympic Peninsula Environmental News
Independent, locally focused journalism covering environmental and land-use issues on the Olympic Peninsula.

Rainshadow Journal
Port Townsend-area collective publishing regional essays, commentary, environmental writing, arts coverage, and community analysis.

Underscore Native News
Nonprofit newsroom focused on Indigenous-centered reporting in the Pacific Northwest.

Uplift Local
Emerging nonprofit community news initiative serving the Columbia River Gorge region in Oregon and Washington.

Public, Legacy, and Established Regional Media

Cascade PBS
Public media organization providing reporting, investigations, and regional analysis across Washington state.

The Seattle Times
Washington’s largest daily newspaper, offering extensive local and regional reporting and strong editorial standards.

The Stranger
Seattle publication combining investigative reporting, political commentary, and cultural criticism from a progressive perspective.

Seattle P-I
Digital-only Seattle news site publishing local news, real estate, features, events, and selected regional coverage.

Washington-Based Outlets with a National Audience

Grist
Seattle-headquartered nonprofit newsroom focused on climate and environmental journalism at the intersection of policy, justice, and solutions.

YES! Media
Seattle-area solutions-journalism nonprofit now centered on a monthly newsletter, with an extensive archive of past reporting and essays.

Quick-Read Local News Sources

These outlets are useful for quick scanning and awareness and work best when paired with deeper reporting sources.

Axios Seattle/Axios Portland
Daily local newsletter offering quick summaries and links.

Patch—Across Washington
Hyperlocal platform with a mix of staff reporting, community posts, and aggregated material; quality varies by community.

Ownership Matters

Across Washington and the U.S., corporate consolidation has weakened or closed many local news organizations, including newspapers, television stations, and radio outlets. Independent and nonprofit newsrooms face similar risks if communities do not actively support them. Who owns local news — and how it is funded — affects what survives and how well communities are covered.

A separate resource mapping Washington media ownership and newspaper chains is in progress.

📰 Media & Journalism Tools

Check it out for curated lists of progressive, moderate, conservative, and nonprofit news media; fact-checking resources; and media bias and reliability rating sites.

If this resource resonates with you, please share it with friends.

Share

Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox free.

Subscribe now

Want a clear picture of where to find the most credible reporting on the issues you care about? This guide brings together top-rated media outlets across major coverage areas—breaking news, justice, climate, business, technology, global affairs, and more. It includes several outlets from my lists of Progressive Media Sources, Moderate & Conservative Media Sources, and Nonprofit News Media.

I encourage readers to follow more than one news source. Breaking news offers speed but not depth; in-depth reporting provides detail but not immediacy; and analysis helps explain the “why” and “how” behind events.

Use this guide—along with the linked media sources above and your local news outlets—to build and bookmark a mix that fits your interests, political perspective, and community. And keep following the sources that earn your trust through consistent, responsible reporting.

The media below differ in political lean; most have middle or balanced bias, and some skew left or right. But they share something important: strong performance in accuracy and responsible journalism. Rankings are based on Ad Fontes Media’s reliability and bias scores, combined with NewsGuard’s credibility ratings.

Whether you want fast updates, deep investigations, or expert coverage on a specific beat, this guide helps you go straight to the sources you can trust.

Hard News and Breaking News

Straight reporting, rapid updates, and the lowest opinion/noise ratio. Links generally go to the organization’s main news website, rather than a print edition, broadcast program, podcast, or newsletter.

• Reuters — International news agency known for accuracy, neutrality, and timely coverage.

• BBC News — Global newsroom offering high-quality, well-sourced international and U.S. reporting.

• AP/Associated Press — Nonprofit global wire service providing fast, verified news with minimal analysis.

• BNO News — Fast breaking-news alerts and developing-story updates; best paired with fuller reporting.

• NPR News — National public-media newsroom offering accurate, contextual reporting with public-service standards.

• ABC News — National network newsroom offering breaking news, video, summaries, and broad general coverage.

• NBC News — National network newsroom with broad reporting, breaking-news coverage, video, and strong sourcing standards.

• USA Today — Broad national coverage with clear, concise news reports and strong fact-checking.

Investigative Journalism and Longform Reporting

Accountability, data digging, systemic issues, and explanatory depth

• ProPublica — Nonprofit newsroom producing in-depth investigations on public interest and government accountability.

• Christian Science Monitor — Solutions-oriented reporting with explanatory depth and international reach.

• Time Magazine — National reporting and features offering context-rich coverage of U.S. and global issues.

• Los Angeles Times — Major regional paper providing deep reporting on California and national issues.

• The Atlantic — Longform reporting and analysis on national issues, culture, and democracy.

• The Seattle Times — Regional newspaper known for award-winning investigations and strong local accountability journalism.

Politics, Governance, and Public Affairs

Elections, Congress, policy, law, and national institutions

• Reuters/United States — Straightforward global and U.S. reporting.

• AP/Politics — Fast, accurate wire reporting on national political news.

• Scripps News/Politics — Streaming-focused national news source offering clear, low-drama political coverage.

• NPR News/Politics — Fact-grounded reporting on elections, democracy, and federal policy.

• Axios — Concise coverage of politics, policy, and government with a focus on clarity and transparency.

• PBS NewsHour — Public-media reporting offering context-rich political and policy coverage.

• The Hill — Washington, D.C., political site useful for Congress, agencies, polling, and Beltway framing.

• Politico — Leading outlet for U.S. political news, policy coverage, and congressional reporting.

• The Dispatch — Center-right outlet offering fact-based political reporting and analysis.

Business, Economy, and Finance

Markets, labor, corporate activity, and economic indicators

• Barrons — Long-established financial reporting on markets, investment, and corporate performance.

• Financial Times — Leading international business outlet with deep economic and policy coverage.

• USAFacts — Nonprofit resource offering government and economic data without commentary.

• CNBC — Real-time coverage of markets, business trends, and economic data.

• Wall Street Journal/News — High-reliability reporting on finance, markets, and economic trends.

• MarketWatch — Accessible analysis and reporting on personal finance, markets, and the economy.

• Bloomberg News — Industry-standard reporting on markets, business, and global economics.

• Business Insider — Broad business and economy coverage with reader-friendly explanations.

• Forbes — Reporting on business trends, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership.

Science, Medicine, and Public Health

Evidence-based reporting that explains research and health policy

• Science News — Nonprofit science-news outlet covering research across science, medicine, technology, environment, and public health.

• Nature/News — High-quality science reporting from one of the world’s top research publishers.

• KFF Health News — Nonprofit newsroom covering U.S. health care policy and public health systems.

• Reuters/Science — Fast, accurate reporting on global science and health developments.

• STAT News — Top source for health, medicine, biotech, and science reporting.

• NPR/Science — Clear, credible reporting on science, health, and research.

  PBS NewsHour/Science— In-depth science reporting with strong public-media standards.

Climate, Energy, and Environment

Climate science, adaptation, regulation, and energy policy

• Inside Climate News — Pulitzer-winning newsroom covering climate science and energy issues.

• Cascade PBS — Regional reporting on environment, Northwest politics, and communities.

• High Country News — Environmental and land-use reporting on the American West, public lands, and rural communities.

• NPR/Climate — Explanatory reporting on climate science and U.S. policy.

• Grist — Nonprofit climate journalism with reporting on policy, equity, and environmental solutions.

• Time/Climate Change — National coverage of climate impacts and policy.

• The Guardian/Environment — Global climate reporting and environmental investigations.

International Affairs and Global Analysis

Foreign policy, geopolitics, global conflict, and diplomacy

• Reuters/World — Fast, accurate coverage of international events.

• BBC/News — Global reporting with correspondents around the world.

• AP/World News — Wire service with broad global reach.

• Foreign Affairs — Leading journal on international relations with expert analysis.

• Foreign Policy — Reporting and analysis on global security, diplomacy, and conflict.

• The Economist — Global publication offering analysis of international affairs, economics, politics, and public policy.

• Time/World — Accessible reporting on major world events.

• The Washington Post/World — In-depth international reporting and foreign policy analysis.

Technology, AI, and Future Trends

Credible reporting on tech, innovation, AI, and digital culture

• MIT Technology Review — Evidence-based analysis on emerging technology and trends.

• The Markup — Nonprofit newsroom investigating technology, data, algorithms, privacy, and digital power.

• Ars Technica — In-depth reporting on technology, cybersecurity, and policy.

• Axios/Technology — Concise reporting on Silicon Valley, tech companies, and AI policy.

• The Verge— Coverage of tech, digital culture, and consumer technology with solid sourcing.

• Wired — Trusted reporting on technology, science, and the social implications of innovation.

• The Atlantic/Technology — Contextual coverage of AI, tech policy, and digital life.

Culture, Society, and Ideas

Public understanding, identity, ethics, arts, lifestyle, and social change

• BBC/Culture — Essays and features on global arts and cultural trends.

• Pew Research Center — Reliable nonpartisan data and analysis on public opinion, demographics, media, and social trends.

• The New York Times/Arts — Widely read coverage of arts, culture, and ideas.

• Time Magazine — National features on social trends, culture, and public life.

• Religion News Service — Independent reporting on religion, ethics, and culture.

  The Atlantic — Essays and reporting on American culture, ideas, and social change.

• Mashable — Accessible coverage of internet culture, entertainment, digital life, and consumer tech.

Justice, Crime, and Legal Affairs

Courts, civil rights, criminal justice, and constitutional issues

• ProPublica — Investigations uncovering systemic failures in justice and civil rights.

• The Marshall Project — Essential investigative journalism focused on the U.S. criminal justice system.

• Reuters/Legal — Global coverage of major legal and regulatory developments.

• Just Security — Expert, evidence-driven analysis on democracy, constitutional issues, and U.S. and global security.

• AP/Courts — Straightforward coverage of legal proceedings and rulings.

• Courthouse News Service — Reliable, timely reporting on federal and state courts.

• NPR/Law — Clear reporting on courts, policing, and civil liberties.

• The Hill — Breaking news on judicial decisions and Congress–court intersections.

Other Media and Journalism Tools

• Fact-checking

• Media analysis and bias rating

• Progressive columnists, and commentators

• Advocacy groups for local, independent journalism

• Writing letters to the editor

If this resource resonates with you, please share it with friends.

Share

Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe now

Most news consumers know the difference between reporting and opinion, but not all opinion is created equal. The writers and hosts in this guide offer fact-based analysis and opinion, grounded commentary, and clear reasoning. They draw on history, law, data, lived experience, and deep reporting.

This list is organized by topic so readers can find the voices that speak most directly to the issues they care about—from threats to democracy, economic inequality, and peace to cultural change, climate policy, media literacy, and life here in the Pacific Northwest.

*Some of my favorites.

Democracy, Law & Authoritarianism

Jamelle Bouie – The New York Times *
Sharp political and historical analysis on democracy, race, and American identity.

Elie Mystal – The Nation *
Legal analyst explaining civil rights, justice, and the Constitution with clarity and conviction.

John Nichols – The Nation *
Veteran political correspondent chronicling democratic reform, elections, and political movements.

Jeet Heer – The Nation / The Time of Monsters (Substack) *
Blends politics, history, and cultural analysis to expose the roots of today’s democratic struggles.

Heather Cox Richardson – Letters from an American (Substack) *
A historian connecting today’s politics with America’s political past, she occasionally draws connections to U.S. foreign policy and Cold War legacy.

Timothy Snyder – Thinking About… (Substack) *
Historian offering fact-based commentary on authoritarianism, democracy, and the lessons history teaches about political danger.

Rachel Maddow – MS NOW *
Host and author providing deeply researched, historically informed commentary on extremism, corruption, and threats to democracy. Notable books: Blowout, Drift, Prequel

Ari Melber – MS NOW *
Attorney and commentator blending constitutional analysis, accountability journalism, and accessible legal explanations. Host of The Beat with Ari Melber.

Economy, Inequality & Money in Politics

Robert Reich – Substack and Public Commentary *
Economist exposing inequality, corporate power, and the threats facing working people.

Paul Krugman – Substack *
Nobel Prize–winning economist explaining inequality, fiscal policy, and political economy.

Judd Legum – Popular Information (Substack)
Investigates money, influence, corporate pressure, and political manipulation with relentless sourcing.

Charles M. Blow – Blow the Stack (Substack)
Analyzes identity, inequality, culture, and political power through a moral and personal lens.

Peace, War & U.S. Power Abroad

Michael T. Klare – The Nation / Arms Control Association *
Defense analyst connecting military policy, climate, fossil fuels, and emerging weapons risks

Katrina vanden Heuvel – The Nation / The Guardian *
Editor and columnist advocating for diplomacy-first foreign policy and nuclear disarmament—and commenting on U.S. politics.

Andrew Bacevich – TomDispatch / Quincy Institute
Historian and retired Army colonel offering occasional critiques of American militarism, global overreach, and endless war.

Also: Heather Cox Richardson and Bill McKibben
See columnists who occasionally address foreign policy, militarism, and U.S. power abroad.

Identity, Culture & Social Justice

Michelle Goldberg – The New York Times
Progressive commentator examining feminism, culture, and the modern right.

Joan Walsh – The Nation *
Veteran journalist offering grounded, pragmatic political analysis with a strong social justice lens.

Katha Pollitt – The Nation
Columnist with decades of feminist, cultural, and political writing that still feels timely and sharp.

Climate, Environment & Sustainability

Bill McKibben – The Crucial Years (Substack) *
Environmental author and activist connecting climate politics with community resilience—and ecological destruction with militarism.

Naomi Klein – The Guardian
Writer bridging climate, capitalism, and social transformation with systemic clarity.

Media, Disinformation & Information Integrity

Mark Jacob – Stop the Presses (Substack) *
Veteran editor explaining how propaganda, extremism, and media failures shape public understanding.

Margaret Sullivan – The Guardian
Media critic analyzing how journalism, misinformation, and political coverage influence public understanding and democracy.

Jeet Heer – The Nation / The Time of Monsters (Substack) *
(Also appears above) Writer breaking down media narratives, political framing, and the intersection of press and power

John Nichols – The Nation *
(Also appears above) Covers media accountability, political communication, and threats to journalism in the U.S.

Judd Legum – Popular Information
(Also appears above) Investigates disinformation networks, political influence campaigns, and the media’s role in amplifying or challenging them.

Also: Brier Dudley – The Seattle Times
Below, Free Press editor leading the Save the Free Press initiative.

Regional & Local Voices – Pacific Northwest

Danny Westneat – The Seattle Times *
Insightful, pointed commentary on politics, policy, daily life, and Northwest culture.

Brier Dudley – The Seattle Times *
Free Press editor leading the Save the Free Press initiative, focused on local journalism, media ownership, and press freedom.

Knute Berger – Cascade PBS / Mossback’s Northwest
Historian-journalist exploring regional culture, history, and identity.

Post Alley – Seattle *
A collective of veteran Seattle writers offering commentary on local, regional, and national issues from a Seattle/Northwest perspective.

Related Reading

Books to Help Us Bridge Divides and Resolve Conflict
A curated selection of books that deepen our insight into conflict, cooperation, democracy, and what it takes to strengthen communities.

Share
If this resource resonates with you, please share it with friends.

Share

Subscribe
Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe now

Why this matters

Across the United States, traditional local news outlets are shrinking or disappearing. Newspapers are closing, TV and radio newsrooms are cutting staff, and many communities no longer have a reliable source of news about local government, schools, or public safety.

At the same time, public trust in the news media has been shaken by political polarization, corporate consolidation, and an explosion of online misinformation.

In response, a growing number of nonprofit newsrooms are stepping in. They’re offering solutions journalism that is mission-driven, community-rooted, and committed to public service. These independent outlets report stories that matter to the communities they serve, hold institutions accountable, and bring diverse voices into the conversation.

This guide features a wide range of nonprofit news media—from neighborhood-based reporters in Port Townsend and Washington state to national and international public-interest organizations.

Most are members of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), which helps build and sustain nonprofit newsrooms working to inform the public, not profit from it. INN also provides key commentary and advocacy addressing why nonprofit journalism is vital to democracy’s future.

💡 This guide complements Plainly, Garbl’s companion resource, Saving Local Journalism and Independent Media Advocacy. It highlights advocacy groups working to protect journalism and rebuild trust.

Here, I spotlight the newsrooms themselves, the ones still doing the work.

🔹Local Coverage: Washington State

Salish Current, Bellingham

Independent nonprofit newsroom covering public interest stories across Whatcom, San Juan, and Skagit counties, with a focus on civic and environmental issues.

Gig Harbor Now

Nonprofit digital newsroom publishing community news, public affairs, and human-interest stories for the Gig Harbor peninsula.

The Jefferson County Beacon, Port Townsend

A worker-directed nonprofit newspaper offering local reporting and commentary. (Gary Larson of Plainly, Garbl serves on the board of the Beacon.)

The JOLT (Journal of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater), Olympia

Online nonprofit news site covering local government, environment, and community developments in Thurston County.

My Edmonds News/Lynnwood Today MLTnews

Sister sites offering daily news and opinion for South Snohomish County, focused on hyperlocal issues.

Key Peninsula News, Vaughn

Community-led nonprofit newspaper publishing monthly print and online stories about people, places, and policies.

🔹Regional Coverage: Pacific Northwest

Cascade PBS, Seattle

Nonprofit public media organization providing in-depth reporting, documentaries, and civic-focused journalism across Washington state.

InvestigateWest, Seattle

Award-winning investigative nonprofit covering health, environment, and equity issues across the Pacific Northwest.

Uplift Local, Forest Grove, Oregon

Emerging nonprofit initiative promoting civic engagement through storytelling in rural and underrepresented communities.

Columbia Insight, Hood River, Oregon

Independent digital publication reporting on environmental topics across the Columbia River Basin and Pacific Northwest.

The Lund Report, Portland

Specialized nonprofit newsroom covering health care policy and outcomes in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Underscore Native News, Portland

Indigenous-centered nonprofit newsroom reporting on Native communities and sovereignty issues across the Pacific Northwest.

High Country News, Paonia, Colorado

Nationally recognized nonprofit magazine covering the American West’s land, people, culture, and environmental politics.

🔹National Coverage

The War Horse, Richlands, North Carolina

Award-winning nonprofit newsroom covering military service, veterans, and the lasting effects of war.

OpenSecrets, Washington, D.C.

Data-driven nonprofit tracking campaign finance, lobbying, and political influence.

Grist, Seattle

Nonprofit media organization reporting on climate justice, green innovation, and policy solutions with national and global reach.

Floodlight, Washington, D.C.

Investigative outlet partnering with local newsrooms to expose corporate polluters and environmental harms.

YES! Media, Bainbridge Island

Seattle-area solutions-journalism nonprofit now centered on a monthly newsletter, with an extensive archive of past reporting and essays.

The Imprint, Los Angeles

Nonprofit newsroom investigating child welfare, youth justice, and family issues nationwide.

The Margin, Occidental, California

Nonprofit publication covering systemic inequality and the experiences of marginalized people and places most affected by environmental injustice.

H2O Radio, Denver

Environmental journalism organization using sound-rich storytelling to explore water, climate, and sustainability.

Next City, Philadelphia

Solutions journalism publication covering urban equity, housing, and infrastructure innovation.

Center for Sustainable Journalism, Kennesaw, Georgia
A collaborative nonprofit hub focused on youth, education, justice, and civic engagement. Of the projects listed below, only Youth Today appears to be currently active online.

• Youth Today. National news and resources covering youth services, policy, and youth development.

• The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE). Archive of reporting on juvenile justice reform and related systems.

• Fresh Take Georgia. Student-powered Georgia news service.

• Bokeh Focus. Visual journalism project spotlighting youth perspectives through photography and storytelling.

🔹Global Coverage

Pulitzer Center, Washington, D.C.

A nonprofit that funds and promotes high-impact global reporting on issues ranging from climate to conflict.

The GroundTruth Project, Boston
A nonprofit journalism organization focused on rebuilding local and international reporting through fellowships and training.

• Report for America. Places emerging journalists in local newsrooms across the U.S. to strengthen community coverage.

• Report for the World. Supports journalism around the globe by matching local newsrooms with talented reporters.

Investigative Editing Corps, Marietta, Georgia

Matches veteran editors with local newsrooms to build investigative capacity.

Circle of Blue, Traverse City, Michigan

Nonprofit media platform focused on water, climate, and food systems through data-driven journalism.

Sapan News Network, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Independent media collective covering South Asia, the Indian Ocean region, and diasporic communities.

🗣 Defending the Future of Journalism: A Local Newspaper Speaks Out

Save the Free Press Initiative, Seattle Times

The Seattle Times’ Save the Free Press Initiative works to secure a sustainable future for independent local journalism. Led by editorial columnist Brier Dudley, the initiative advocates for reforms, public investment, and stronger policies to protect press freedom and rebuild civic trust.

Dudley’s weekly column, Voices for the Free Press, explores threats to U.S. journalism and highlights practical solutions, often focusing on local media, nonprofit models, newsroom partnerships, and legislative action.

Subscribe to the newsletter
Contact: bdudley@seattletimes.com

Related Resources

🟦 Saving Local Journalism and Independent Media Advocacy

A ranked guide to advocacy groups protecting journalism, rebuilding trust, and sustaining community news.

📰Progressive Media Sources for News, Ideas, and Action

Fact-based journalism with a progressive lens. Informing movements, shaping change.

📰 Moderate and Conservative Media Sources to Track

Understanding what influences the center-right without buying into the spin.

📰 The Truth Toolkit: Fact-Checking Resources for Informed Resistance

Understanding where to find reliable fact-checking resources is more critical than ever.

✍️ Why Journalism Matters And Why We Must Defend It

Journalism isn’t just about headlines. It’s also about democracy.

Share
If you found this resource useful, please share it with friends.

Share

Subscribe
Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe now

Want sharp reporting, deep analysis, and stories that matter to progressives? Recently updated, these media outlets bring fact-based journalism, investigative reporting, and big-picture insights on politics, policy, activism, and social justice.

Whether you’re looking for hard-hitting investigations, movement-building ideas, or a fresh take on the headlines, these sources can help you stay informed, stay sharp, and stay inspired. (Some sources require paid subscriptions for unlimited access. An asterisk* marks the outlets I use most often for news and analysis.)

Tier placements reflect current influence, reliability, and usefulness to readers and are reassessed as news organizations evolve.

Tier 1. High Influence and Credibility

Widely trusted, high-impact organizations known for rigorous reporting and broad reach. Core sources for reliable coverage of government, policy, and public affairs.

ProPublica *

A nonprofit investigative newsroom exposing corruption, government failures, and social injustice through deep, data-driven reporting that often drives policy reform and accountability.

PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) | Cascade PBS * (Washington)

A nonprofit public broadcaster known for investigative journalism and educational content, with a strong emphasis on public interest reporting, civic understanding, and accountability. Some progressives consider it overly cautious.

NPR (National Public Radio)

A nonprofit public radio network offering in-depth news and cultural programming, with consistent coverage of policy, equity, and public affairs. Sometimes criticized for cautious, establishment-friendly reporting.

The New York Times *

A globally influential newspaper offering investigative journalism and political analysis, with extensive coverage of government, inequality, and social issues. Sometimes criticized for centrist bias in political coverage.

The Guardian *

A British nonprofit news site known for independent, progressive investigative journalism and global coverage of politics, the environment, and social justice, often leading reporting on climate change and human rights.

The Atlantic

A magazine known for rigorous long-form journalism and influential analysis on democracy, politics, culture, and civic life, with a focus on institutions, leadership, and the future of American democracy.

Tier 2. Influential Sources and Progressive Perspectives

Credible outlets that more clearly reflect progressive perspectives, offering analysis and reporting that emphasize social justice, policy impacts, and systemic issues.

Just Security *

A policy forum analyzing national security, democracy, and human rights, offering expert legal perspectives with a progressive lens.

Foreign Affairs

A highly influential foreign-policy journal from the Council on Foreign Relations, useful for understanding establishment views on diplomacy, war, democracy, global strategy, and long-term policy choices. Bias ratings vary from center to skews left.

Vox *

A digital news outlet known for its detailed “explainer” journalism, breaking down policy, politics, and culture from a progressive standpoint.

The Grio

A news and opinion site focused on issues affecting Black communities, offering reporting, cultural coverage, and analysis with a perspective often underrepresented in mainstream media.

The Washington Post

A historically important newspaper known for investigative reporting and government accountability, often highlighting abuses of power and threats to democratic institutions. Ownership decisions and newsroom turmoil have weakened its influence and credibility.

The Week

A news magazine known for concise summaries and curated perspectives from across the political spectrum, including perspectives that help progressive readers understand competing arguments and strengthen their own.

The Verge

A widely read technology and culture site covering digital trends, consumer tech, and platform power, offering accessible reporting and analysis with increasing attention to policy and societal impact.

Wired

A respected technology and culture magazine offering in-depth reporting on AI, technology, corporate power, privacy, and digital influence—issues central to modern progressive concerns.

HuffPost

A digital news and opinion site with a progressive-populist voice, still strong on politics, social justice, and culture, though its newsroom scale and corporate ownership have shifted significantly in recent years.

The New Yorker

A prestigious magazine offering in-depth investigative reporting, political commentary, and cultural criticism, with a focus on political accountability, social justice, and cultural critique.

The Lever

An investigative news outlet that exposes corruption in politics, corporations, and the media with data-driven, fact-checked reporting.

The Intercept

A nonprofit investigative site covering government surveillance, corporate power, national security, civil liberties, and foreign policy, though staff departures, layoffs, and funding challenges have reduced its influence from its earlier peak.

Mother Jones

A nonprofit magazine known for deep investigative journalism on politics, democracy, climate, corporate power, and social justice, with a progressive editorial stance that shapes story selection and framing.

Slate

A digital magazine featuring progressive analysis of politics, culture, and public policy.

The American Prospect *

A nonprofit progressive magazine offering investigative reporting and in-depth analysis of policy, politics, and economic justice.

MS NOW *

Formerly MSNBC, a cable and digital news network offering breaking news, reporting, progressive political analysis, and opinion-driven programming, with a clear emphasis on democratic norms, civil rights, and opposition to authoritarianism.

Salon

Digital magazine covering politics, culture, and current events from a strongly progressive perspective; useful for commentary and analysis, but readers should distinguish its opinion-heavy work from straight reporting.

Democracy Now!

A nonprofit news outlet focusing on grassroots activism, human rights, and underreported global issues, often centering anti-war, civil rights, and economic justice perspectives.

The Nation *

A progressive magazine that covers politics, culture, and social justice, known for its investigative journalism, analysis, and political activism. A go-to source of mine for news analysis and commentary for 40 years.

The New Republic

A long-standing progressive magazine blending long-form analysis, historical insight, and liberal advocacy, with a focus on democratic institutions, inequality, and governance.

Tier 3. Valuable Niche and Advocacy-Oriented Outlets

Credible outlets with a narrower focus, regional reach, or stronger ideological framing—often rewarding reads but not always daily destinations.

The Marshall Project

A nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on criminal justice, policing, and incarceration, known for rigorous, data-driven reporting that informs courts, policymakers, and public debate.

Inside Climate News
A nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom producing investigative reporting and analysis on climate change, environmental justice, fossil-fuel industries, policy, and climate solutions, with a strong accountability focus.

The Appeal

A nonprofit news site investigating criminal justice and social justice issues, offering in-depth reporting and policy analysis on systemic reform.

The Seattle Times *

My local daily newspaper, an independent, locally owned outlet recognized for fact-based reporting, award-winning investigations, and strong Northwest coverage. Its editorial page often leans moderate to liberal, while its news coverage is broader and more balanced.

Capital B

A nonprofit news outlet covering local and national issues—such as health, criminal justice, and education—that affect Black communities, with a focus on policy, equity, and civic engagement.

LGBT Nation

A digital news site covering LGBTQ issues, politics, and culture, offering timely updates and advocacy-oriented reporting with a clear focus on equality and civil rights.

Vice

A once-influential digital media outlet known for immersive reporting, global issues, youth culture, politics, and countercultural storytelling. Now operating more as a magazine, documentary, and membership-based media brand.

The Baffler

A nonprofit magazine offering progressive cultural criticism and political analysis, often challenging mainstream liberalism from a more critical, left-leaning perspective.

Common Dreams *

A nonprofit, advocacy-oriented news and commentary site that aggregates and publishes progressive reporting and opinion, with a strong emphasis on activism, economic justice, climate, and anti-war perspectives.

Ms. Magazine

A nonprofit feminist magazine addressing gender equality, reproductive rights, and social justice with analysis and advocacy.

Popular Information

An independent newsletter by Judd Legum exposing money and influence in politics; widely cited by major media.

Talking Points Memo (TPM)

A political news site offering investigative reporting and progressive analysis on the U.S. government and policy.

The 19th News

A nonprofit newsroom covering gender, policy, and equity with a focus on representation, rights, and systemic inequality; increasingly influential in national coverage.

AlterNet

A strongly progressive digital news and opinion site that often republishes partner content; useful for scanning progressive arguments but not a core source for original reporting.

In These Times

A nonprofit magazine focusing on labor, social movements, and political activism from a progressive-left perspective.

Truthout

A nonprofit news organization reporting on social justice, climate change, and government accountability from a progressive, advocacy-oriented perspective.

The Progressive

A nonprofit magazine covering civil rights, democracy, and economic justice from a leftist perspective.

The Root

A digital magazine focusing on African American culture, politics, and social justice with a progressive and intersectional focus on race, identity, and public policy.

PDF version: To save or print a PDF copy of this resource, click the three dots above the image at the top of the page, then choose Open as PDF. Links in the PDF should remain clickable on your device, but the online version is the best place to find the most current links and updates.

Other Media Resources

Moderate and Conservative Media Sources to Track

Understanding what influences the center-right, without buying into the spin.

The Truth Toolkit: Fact-Checking Resources for Informed Resistance

Understanding where to find reliable fact-checking resources is more critical than ever.

Evaluating the Evaluators: A Guide to Media Analysis and Bias Rating Resources

A categorized list of major media evaluation resources—organizations that analyze news outlets for credibility, reliability, accuracy, and bias. These sites don’t function strictly as fact-checkers but as broader media watchdogs.

Saving Local Journalism and Independent Media Advocacy

A ranked guide to advocacy groups protecting journalism, rebuilding trust, and sustaining community news.

If you found this resource useful, please share it with friends.

Share

Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe now

This updated guide helps progressive readers track the broader media landscape beyond explicitly progressive outlets—including shared factual reporting, financial analysis, legislative strategy, right-leaning arguments, and faith-based or contrarian commentary.

It shows how different centers of influence interpret events, shape assumptions, and frame the debates that progressives often must answer—from civic institutions and market signals to insider strategy and conservative worldview. Some require paid subscriptions for unlimited access. An asterisk (*) marks the sources I follow most closely to understand the broader media spectrum.

Related Resource: See Progressive Media Sources for News, Ideas, and Action for fact-based journalism with a progressive lens—informing movements, shaping change.

The outlets are grouped by the role they play in shaping public understanding—from shared facts and economic signals to insider strategy, conservative argument, and culture-war or faith-based framing.

Tier 1: Trusted Facts, Civic Institutions, and Global Context

Broadly trusted outlets that establish the common factual baseline across public life, policy, and world affairs.

USAFacts

A nonprofit, nonpartisan data platform presenting government statistics and public-policy facts in an accessible form, useful for grounding debates in shared numbers.

Pew Research Center

A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization known for trusted polling, demographic studies, and data-rich analysis of politics, media, religion, and social trends.

Reuters

A global news wire service known for balanced reporting, widely used across the spectrum for business and political coverage, with especially clear reporting on major economic developments.

Associated Press (AP) *

A global, nonprofit news wire service known for accurate, nonpartisan reporting. Widely used by media outlets across the spectrum for trustworthy, fact-based coverage of breaking news, events, and major economic developments.

BBC News

A British public broadcaster offering global news with a centrist economic outlook and establishment-friendly analysis that U.S. readers often consider neutral.

Christian Science Monitor

A highly trusted global news organization known for thoughtful reporting on international affairs, democracy, public life, and civic institutions.

U.S. News & World Report

A familiar national publication now best known for policy reporting, rankings, public affairs, and institutional analysis across government, education, and health.

PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) | Cascade PBS * (Washington)

A nonprofit public broadcaster known for investigative journalism, documentaries, and civic reporting, with a strong emphasis on accountability, education, and public affairs.

NPR (National Public Radio) | KUOW

A nonprofit public radio network known for in-depth reporting, policy coverage, and cultural programming, widely used for civic and public affairs contexts.

NBC News
Major broadcast-network news organization whose 30-minute nightly newscasts, morning programs, breaking-news coverage, public-affairs shows, local affiliates, and websites remain familiar news sources for Americans who get much of their news by watching.

Foreign Policy

A long-running global affairs publication covering diplomacy, war, alliances, trade, democracy, and geopolitical strategy from a government and international policy perspective.

USA Today
A national mainstream outlet known for accessible reporting on breaking news, politics, culture, and public opinion, often reflecting the broad middle of American news consumption, with especially useful consumer-facing economic coverage.

Time

A well-known national news magazine known for broad coverage of politics, culture, institutions, and major global events, with strong agenda-setting visibility.

Newsweek

Long-established news brand now operating as a fast-moving digital news and opinion platform; useful for tracking broad public debate, but best cross-checked on contested claims.

Tier 2: Business, Markets, and Financial Media

How markets, businesses, and economic institutions interpret events—with several sources especially useful for everyday readers who want a clearer or deeper understanding of how the economy affects real life.

Marketplace

A public radio and digital news source known for highly reliable, plain-language explanations of business and economic news, with a strong focus on how policy and market shifts affect everyday life.

Barron’s

A respected financial publication focused on markets, investing, and economic trends, offering insight into investor-class assumptions and market-policy reactions.

The Wall Street Journal

A global business newspaper with reliable reporting, especially useful for a deeper understanding of jobs, trade, business policy, and the consumer economy. Its editorial page advances strong conservative free-market and deregulatory arguments.

Bloomberg

Global business outlet known for financial reporting, economic analysis, and pro-market coverage, especially useful for quick clarity on inflation, jobs, trade, and economic policy.

The Economist

UK-based magazine covering global economics and politics, favoring free markets and centrist-to-conservative fiscal policies, especially useful for a broader understanding of inflation, global trade, growth, and long-term economic trends.

Forbes

A business and leadership publication covering markets, taxes, regulation, and executive culture, useful for tracking pro-market and institutional center-right thinking.

Fortune

A long-running business publication covering corporate leadership, markets, workplace trends, and economic strategy, useful for tracking executive and institutional thinking.

Tier 3: Insider Political and Policy Intelligence

Where political professionals, journalists, and institutional insiders track legislation, power shifts, and the strategic framing that often drives Washington debate.

Tangle

A media-analysis newsletter that presents left, right, and independent perspectives side by side, making it especially useful for issue framing and media literacy.

Axios *

Known for concise, insider-style reporting on politics, business, and policy; now expanded with newsletters and podcasts that shape policy coverage.

The Hill

Washington-based political site offering reporting, polling coverage, and commentary; useful for tracking Beltway framing, with a tone that often leans center-right.

Politico *

A centrist political-news outlet valued for insider reporting and policy analysis, though its corporate ownership and Beltway focus frustrate progressives.

Semafor

A digital news outlet founded by former New York Times and Bloomberg journalists, offering transparent, globally focused reporting on politics, business, media, and policy.

The Bulwark

A centrist publication founded by Never-Trump conservatives. Now best known for its pro-democracy commentary and thoughtful analysis that overlaps with moderate, sometimes progressive perspectives.

Tier 4: Conservative, Libertarian, and Right-Leaning Argument Engines

Mostly credible center-right and conservative outlets that help explain how the right makes its policy, legal, and cultural arguments, along with one influential TV-driven messaging force often criticized for misleading or weakly supported claims.

The Dispatch

Conservative news and analysis site founded by ex-Republican strategists, offering fact-based, non-sensationalist reporting and opinion.

The Center Square | Washington

State-focused nonprofit news network from the Franklin News Foundation, emphasizing taxes, regulation, spending, and local policy through a fiscally conservative lens.

Reason

A nonprofit libertarian magazine advocating free markets, limited government, and individual liberty, sometimes diverging from both left- and right-wing orthodoxy.

Fox News

The most influential mass-audience conservative news brand, central to Republican messaging and right-leaning narratives; useful to track, but not a reliable standalone source for contested claims.

Washington Examiner

A conservative news and opinion outlet that advances establishment-Republican and center-right policy arguments, particularly on government, law, and culture issues.

The National Review

Legacy conservative magazine focused on traditional conservatism and free-market ideology, though less influential post-Trump.

Tier 5: Faith-Based and Contrarian Conservative Perspectives

Credible faith-based and contrarian outlets that shape debates on values, identity, free speech, and social change through conservative worldviews.

Christianity Today

An evangelical publication covering faith, ethics, culture, and public life, often reflecting thoughtful conservative Christian perspectives.

World News Group

A conservative Christian news organization blending reporting with worldview-driven analysis of politics, culture, and social change.

Quillette

Contrarian digital magazine publishing essays on culture, academia, free speech, science, and public debate, often critical of mainstream left assumptions.

Share

Subscribe now

In an era of rampant misinformation, disinformation, and media skepticism, it's crucial to assess not just individual news sources but also the organizations that evaluate them.

Below are categorized lists of major media evaluation resources—organizations that analyze news outlets for credibility, reliability, accuracy, and bias. These sites don’t function strictly as fact-checkers but as broader media watchdogs. *I frequently use these resources.

The lists rank and describe media evaluation resources based on their transparency, methodology, reputation, and perceived bias. While all have value, understanding their perspectives and approaches is key to using them effectively.

🧩 This is the second post in a short series about truth, media bias, and fact-checking. See The Truth Toolkit for Part 1.

Misinformation vs. Disinformation

• Misinformation refers to inaccurate or misleading information shared without intent to deceive.

• Disinformation refers to deliberately false information spread to mislead or manipulate.

Understanding this distinction is crucial when evaluating sources and fact-checking claims.

Note: Some of these resources provide basic evaluations for free but charge subscription fees for full access to in-depth reports, ratings, or historical data. Users should check each site's offerings before subscribing.

Independent and Multi-Perspective Media Evaluators

These organizations assess media outlets across the political spectrum, aiming for transparency and balance in their analysis. Each tool uses a different approach; readers get the most value by consulting more than one.

Recommended

Ad Fontes Media * – Known for its Media Bias Chart, Ad Fontes categorizes news sources based on political bias (left, center, right) and reliability in fact reporting. It uses a transparent methodology combining trained human reviewers with AI assistance.
Best used to decide which news sources are most reliable.

NewsGuard * – Provides Nutrition Labels and a useful web browser extension that rate thousands of news sites on credibility and transparency. NewsGuard employs journalists to review sites using clearly defined editorial criteria and is widely used by libraries, schools, and organizations. Best used to check whether a specific site is credible and transparent.

Useful, with limitations

Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC) – An independent site that rates media bias and factual reporting and publishes a transparent methodology. It is widely cited, though its small staff and uneven depth mean it works best alongside more rigorous evaluators. Best used for quick bias and fact-check orientation.

AllSides – Compares coverage of the same stories from left-, center-, and right-leaning sources to highlight differences in framing. Its approach is helpful for perspective comparison but is limited for evaluating reporting quality. Best used to see how different sides frame the same story.

Recommended for perspective

Ground News – A news comparison platform that shows how outlets across the political spectrum cover the same stories, highlighting coverage gaps and ideological blind spots. It does not evaluate reporting accuracy or journalistic standards. Best used to identify stories your usual news sources may overlook.

Journalism and Media Watchdog Institutions

These organizations focus on ethical journalism, media accountability, and improving journalistic practices.

Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) * – A prestigious journalism watchdog affiliated with Columbia University, offering deep-dive critiques of media trends and reporting practices.

Poynter Institute * – A leading journalism education and research institution that also operates PolitiFact and provides guidance on ethics, media literacy, and responsible journalism.

The Trust Project — Journalism-transparency initiative promoting “Trust Indicators” that help readers assess sourcing, corrections, ownership, journalist expertise, and editorial standards.

Ideological and Advocacy-Based Media Critics

These organizations analyze media but often through a specific ideological lens, which influences their evaluations.

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) – A progressive-leaning media critique organization that analyzes corporate and right-leaning media bias.

Media Matters for America * – A progressive media watchdog that monitors conservative media for misinformation, disinformation, and bias.

Media Research Center (MRC) – A conservative media watchdog that monitors and critiques mainstream media for liberal bias, often highlighting what it sees as left-leaning misinformation or disinformation.

Evaluation and Ranking Criteria

To provide a clearer picture of how these organizations operate, this assessment is based on four key factors:

• Credibility – How well-sourced and fact-based their analyses are.

• Reliability – The consistency and transparency of their methodology.

• Accuracy – Their track record for fairness and factual correctness.

• Bias – Their political or ideological leanings (if any) and how they impact evaluations.

Can AI Be Evaluated Using These Criteria?

As AI tools like ChatGPT * (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), and Copilot (Microsoft) increasingly influence media consumption, evaluating them with the same framework is essential.

While AI tools provide vast amounts of information, they rely on existing sources, inherit biases from training data, and lack independent editorial judgment.

AI tools can help summarize or explain claims, but their outputs should always be cross-checked with human-led fact-checking organizations or primary sources.

AI tools vary in accuracy, reliability, sourcing, and bias depending on the tool, prompt, topic, and sources used. Treat AI responses as starting points, not verification.

How to Use This Information

For the most comprehensive view of media credibility and bias:

• Use multiple sources – No single organization is perfect. If a story seems biased, see how different media outlets report it.

• Consider ideological perspectives – Recognize when a source has a bias and balance it with other viewpoints.

• Use fact-checking tools (see Truth Toolkit below) – Validate viral claims with trusted sources and cross-check AI outputs. AI is a tool, not a fact-checker.

• Engage critically – Keep questioning, verifying, and refining your understanding of the news landscape. Be skeptical of headlines and viral stories. Sensationalism often signals bias.

By combining traditional media evaluation tools with AI literacy, we can navigate today’s complex media environment with greater awareness and discernment.

Other Resources

For additional tools and action-focused guides, explore these related resources from Plainly, Garbl:

The Truth Toolkit: Fact-Checking Resources for Informed Resistance
Understanding where to find reliable fact-checking resources is more critical than ever.

Saving Local Journalism and Independent Media Advocacy
A ranked guide to advocacy groups protecting journalism, rebuilding trust, and sustaining community news.

If you found this resource useful, please share it with friends.

Share

Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered free to your inbox.

Subscribe now

Following up on recent political claims about the news media, defending independent journalism isn’t just about emails to elected officials. It’s also about making sure the public hears multiple points of view.

One of the most effective ways to do that? Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper.

📢 Why it matters:
Letters to the Editor reach a broad audience—including your neighbors, community leaders, and even elected officials. They help shape public opinion and show newsrooms that press freedom is an issue people care about.

🖊Tips to Get Published:

✅ Be concise—Keep it under 250 words. Editors prefer short, to-the-point letters.
✅ Stay relevant—Mention a recent news article or event (like Trump’s attacks on the media) to make your letter timely. Find a local angle.
✅ Make it personal—Share why a free press matters to you. Are you a journalist? A concerned citizen? A voter?
✅ Be persuasive, not ranting—Stick to the facts and make a compelling case without personal attacks.
✅ Follow submission guidelines—Check your local newspaper’s website for word limits and submission instructions.

📩Ready to Write?

✔ Find the email address or online submission form for your local paper.
✔ Write an attention-grabbing subject line—Mention "Letter to the Editor" and include a short, compelling message (for example, Defending the Free Press is Defending Democracy).
✔ Draft your message—Just a few sentences can make an impact!
✔ Send it in—and encourage others to do the same!

A free press is essential for democracy. Let’s ensure the voices defending it are as loud as those attacking it.

Why Journalism Matters—And Why We Must Defend It

Saving Local Journalism and Independent Media Advocacy

← Clear Writing Directory

Below is a list of major fact-checking organizations that help verify claims made in news, social media, politics, or popular culture.

These organizations follow journalistic and fact-checking standards, though perspectives on their reliability may vary. Checking multiple sources can provide a more comprehensive view. * I frequently check these media.

Many professional fact-checkers follow standards such as the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles. It emphasizes nonpartisanship, transparency of sources and funding, clear methodology, and corrections.

This is the first post in a short series about truth, media bias, and fact-checking. See Evaluating the Evaluators for Part 2.

Core Political and Claim Fact-Checkers

FactCheck.org * – A nonpartisan, nonprofit fact-checking project focused on U.S. politics.

PolitiFact * – Known for its “Truth-O-Meter,” which also appears as a widget on their website and app, helping readers evaluate political statements on the go.

Reuters Fact Check – Part of the Reuters news agency, investigates viral claims and images with strict journalistic standards.

AP Fact Check (Associated Press) – Offers straightforward investigations of political and social claims.

USA TODAY Fact Check – Reviews viral claims, social media posts, and political developments.

The Washington Post Fact Checker – Evaluates statements by public figures and awards “Pinocchios” based on falsehood levels.

Global and Viral Misinformation Specialists

AFP Fact Check – Agence France-Presse covers global misinformation, especially on social media.

Lead Stories – A fast-moving digital fact-checking newsroom focused on viral social media claims, manipulated images, health misinformation, and political rumors.

BBC Verify – A leading verification team specializing in video, satellite imagery, AI-generated visuals, conflict reporting, and rapid online misinformation analysis.

Snopes – One of the oldest fact-checking sites, originally focused on urban legends and now covering political claims.

Full Fact (UK) – Independent UK-based fact-checking organization emphasizing transparency.

Verifying AI-generated Content

Increasingly, misinformation appears not just as false written claims but as AI-generated images, cloned voices, altered video, and fabricated “news footage.”
Use Reuters Fact Check, AP Fact Check, AFP Fact Check, and BBC Verify, especially when viral content includes dramatic images, war footage, political speeches, or “leaked” audio.

⚠️ Suspicious or Questionable ‘Fact-Checking’ Initiatives

Not every effort that calls itself “fact-checking” is reliable. Some use the language of verification while lacking the transparency, independence, corrections policies, or professional standards expected of credible fact-checking organizations.

Social Media Crowdsourced Systems — X’s Community Notes, Meta’s Community Notes, and TikTok Footnotes rely on volunteer or community contributors rather than professional fact-checking staffs. They can sometimes add useful context, but they are not substitutes for independent journalistic verification, especially during fast-moving news, elections, conflicts, public health scares, or viral AI-generated content.

Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) — Despite using the language of fact-checking, this initiative includes Russian state-linked participants and should not be confused with the International Fact-Checking Network. Treat it as a propaganda-aligned project, not an independent verification organization.

GP FactCheck — Beware. This X-based account presents itself as a fact-checking resource but is openly tied to The Gateway Pundit, a hyper-partisan right-wing outlet with a long record of promoting misinformation. Because it lacks the transparency, editorial standards, and independent methodology expected of professional fact-checking organizations, it should be treated as partisan commentary rather than reliable verification.

Note: I’m not linking to them here to avoid giving questionable efforts more visibility.

➡️ Tip: Always cross-check claims flagged by these questionable sources with independent, professional fact-checking organizations such as PolitiFact, AP Fact Check, or Full Fact.

Using These Resources Effectively

Use Google Fact Check Explorer to search for existing fact checks across multiple publishers and organizations. It is not a fact-checker itself, but it can help you find whether a claim has already been checked.

Bookmark these websites and use them to verify questionable claims.

Cross-check across multiple fact-checking sources for a more nuanced view.

Remember that all fact-checking organizations operate with some degree of interpretation. Stay informed and think critically.

Watch for AI-generated spoof sites and fake verification accounts. Some now mimic the design, logos, and language of trusted fact-checkers. Double-check URLs and use bookmarks to return to verified sources.

By relying on credible fact-checking organizations and cross-referencing information, we can strengthen our ability to discern truth from misinformation and engage in fact-based discussions.

PDF version: To save or print a PDF copy of this resource, click the three dots above the image at the top of the page, then choose Open as PDF. Links in the PDF should remain clickable on your device, but the online version is the best place to find the most current links and updates.

Share

Subscribe now

Local news is in crisis. Across the U.S., newspapers, community-based journalism outlets, and local TV and radio stations are disappearing or struggling to survive with shrinking resources. The reasons: corporate consolidation, collapsing ad revenue, and online disruption.

When local journalism disappears, public meetings go uncovered, local officials face less scrutiny, and communities lose shared facts about their own public life.

At the same time, public trust in the press has been eroded by political attacks, growing cynicism, and unequal and incomplete coverage of many communities.

This guide features advocacy organizations working to revitalize local journalism, promote nonprofit and community-centered media, and defend the vital role of a free and independent press.

These groups provide toolkits, training, policy support, and grassroots engagement to help ensure the survival and renewal of quality journalism in a democratic society.

Together, they form a growing ecosystem working to rebuild and sustain local news. Nonprofit and community-supported newsrooms are emerging as one of the most promising models for rebuilding sustainable local journalism.

💡 This guide complements Plainly, Garbl’s companion resource, Nonprofit News Media, which features media outlets from Washington state to national and international public-interest organizations.

The organizations below address different parts of the crisis:

• funding and sustaining local journalism

• supporting nonprofit and independent newsrooms

• challenging consolidation and improving media policy

• training journalists and strengthening collaboration

• defending press freedom and improving news literacy

They are grouped by role and listed roughly by influence, reach, and opportunities for public engagement.

Local Journalism Support, Funding, and Investment

Report for America (RFA)

An initiative that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on underreported communities and issues, enhancing coverage and accountability.

Institute for Nonprofit News (INN)

A network of nonprofit news organizations that supports and promotes public-interest journalism. INN provides training, resources, and advocacy for nonprofit newsrooms.

American Journalism Project

A nonprofit organization that invests in local news startups and helps them build sustainable business models, focusing on revitalizing local journalism in underserved communities.

Press Forward

A national philanthropic network investing in local journalism, local chapters, nonprofit newsrooms, shared infrastructure, and community partnerships to strengthen sustainable local news ecosystems.

LION Publishers

A national membership organization that helps independent local news publishers build sustainable digital newsrooms through training, networking, and business support.

News Revenue Hub

A nonprofit organization that helps local and nonprofit newsrooms build sustainable revenue through membership programs, fundraising strategies, and audience engagement.

Media Policy, Ownership Reform, and Industry Advocacy

These organizations work to reshape the media system through policy advocacy, industry reform, public pressure, and support for stronger, more democratic journalism.

Media and Democracy Project

A grassroots media-reform organization that supports local and nonprofit journalism, critiques corporate media failures, promotes pro-democracy coverage, and offers practical public tools, including a searchable local journalism directory.

Rebuild Local News

Nonpartisan coalition researching the local news crisis and advocating public policies that strengthen community reporting while preserving editorial independence.

Free Press

A national organization that leads campaigns to protect media access, fight consolidation, and promote diverse local voices in the media system. Not affiliated with the online publication The Free Press.

The News/Media Alliance

An organization representing news publishers across print, digital, and magazine media, advocating for fair compensation and policy reforms to support a sustainable and competitive news industry.

Local Media Association (LMA)

An organization that supports local media companies in their efforts to innovate and thrive, focusing on digital transformation and sustainable business models for local journalism.

National Newspaper Association and Foundation

An organization dedicated to supporting community newspapers and their vital role in local journalism, offering training, legal resources, and federal policy advocacy.

Journalism Training and Professional Support

The Poynter Institute

A leading journalism school that provides training for journalists and media leaders, promoting high standards and ethics in journalism through workshops and online courses.

Center for Cooperative Media

Supports collaboration among local news organizations to strengthen sustainable journalism models and community-focused reporting.

Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA)

Supports local public radio journalists and newsrooms, providing training, editorial standards, and policy advocacy for public broadcasting.

Press Freedom and News Literacy

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

An independent nonprofit organization that defends the rights of journalists worldwide, advocating for press freedom and protecting journalists from violence and harassment.

The News Literacy Project (NLP)

An education nonprofit that teaches the public how to identify credible news and information, empowering individuals to navigate the media landscape effectively.

Media and Journalism Tools

Other resources at Plainly, Garbl. Defend facts. Understand media bias. Spot disinformation.

Key Issues Facing Journalism in the U.S.

Economic Decline of Local News: Hundreds of newspapers, TV, and radio outlets have closed or cut staff, weakening civic engagement and public oversight.

Corporate Consolidation: Hedge funds and conglomerates control many news outlets, reducing editorial independence and local focus.

Public Distrust and Cynicism: Amplified by political attacks, biased narratives, and social media misinformation, trust in journalism continues to erode.

Barriers to Access and Accountability: Journalists across platforms face growing obstacles to records, data, and public officials.

Survival of Independent Outlets: Nonprofit and public-interest models are needed to sustain diverse, mission-driven journalism.

Information Disorder: Misinformation (inaccuracies) and disinformation (lies) undermine fact-based reporting and confuse the public.

Undervalued Media Literacy: Media education is essential so people can recognize reliable sources across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.

Platform Dominance: Tech platforms capture the majority of digital advertising revenue and shape how audiences discover news.

Share

Subscribe now