PRO PUBLICA INC: Form 990, tax year 2020
View the entire original 990 at ProPublica ↗
- Organization
- PRO PUBLICA INC (EIN 14-2007220)
- Tax period
- 2020-01-01 to 2020-12-31
- Filed
- 2021-08-25
- IRS object ID
- 202102379349300020
- Schema version
- 2020v4.1
- Source
- Download XML · Original 990 at ProPublica
Every field in the e-filed return. Faint text is the IRS element name, for citing.
Return header ReturnHeader
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Return | 2021-08-25T10:14:05-05:00 | ReturnTs |
| Tax Period End | 2020-12-31 | TaxPeriodEndDt |
Preparer Firm PreparerFirmGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Preparer Firm EIN | 271728945 | PreparerFirmEIN |
Preparer Firm Name PreparerFirmName
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name Line1 | PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES LLP | BusinessNameLine1Txt |
Preparer US Address PreparerUSAddress
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Line1 | 500 MAMARONECK AVENUE | AddressLine1Txt |
| City | HARRISON | CityNm |
| State Abbreviation | NY | StateAbbreviationCd |
| ZIP | 105281633 | ZIPCd |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Return Type | 990 | ReturnTypeCd |
| Tax Period Begin | 2020-01-01 | TaxPeriodBeginDt |
Filer Filer
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | 142007220 | EIN |
Business Name BusinessName
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name Line1 | PRO PUBLICA INC | BusinessNameLine1Txt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name Control | PROP | BusinessNameControlTxt |
| Phone | 2125145250 | PhoneNum |
US Address USAddress
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Line1 | 155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL | AddressLine1Txt |
| City | NEW YORK | CityNm |
| State Abbreviation | NY | StateAbbreviationCd |
| ZIP | 10013 | ZIPCd |
Business Officer BusinessOfficerGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Person | RICHARD J TOFEL | PersonNm |
| Person Title | PRESIDENT | PersonTitleTxt |
| Phone | 2125145250 | PhoneNum |
| Signature | 2021-08-24 | SignatureDt |
| Discuss With Paid Preparer | Yes (1) | DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd |
Signing Officer SigningOfficerGrp
Person Full Name PersonFullName
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Person First | RICHARD | PersonFirstNm |
| Person Last | TOFEL | PersonLastNm |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| SSN | 142007220 | SSN |
Preparer Person PreparerPersonGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Preparer Person | GARRETT M HIGGINS | PreparerPersonNm |
| PTIN | P00543209 | PTIN |
| Phone | 9143818900 | PhoneNum |
| Preparation | 2021-08-24 | PreparationDt |
Additional Filer Information AdditionalFilerInformation
Trusted Customer TrustedCustomerGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Trusted Customer | 2 | TrustedCustomerCd |
| Authentication Assurance Level | AAL1 | AuthenticationAssuranceLevelCd |
| Identity Assurance Level | IAL1 | IdentityAssuranceLevelCd |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Tax | 2020 | TaxYr |
| Build TS | 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z | BuildTS |
Form 990 IRS990
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Officer | RICHARD J TOFEL | PrincipalOfficerNm |
US Address USAddress
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Line1 | 155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL | AddressLine1Txt |
| City | NEW YORK | CityNm |
| State Abbreviation | NY | StateAbbreviationCd |
| ZIP | 10013 | ZIPCd |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Receipts | $37,821,284 | GrossReceiptsAmt |
| Group Return For Affiliates | 0 | GroupReturnForAffiliatesInd |
| Organization501c3 | Yes (X) | Organization501c3Ind |
| Website Address | WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG | WebsiteAddressTxt |
| Type Of Organization Corp | Yes (X) | TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd |
| Formation | 2007 | FormationYr |
| Legal Domicile State | DE | LegalDomicileStateCd |
| Activity Or Mission | TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST. BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING. | ActivityOrMissionDesc |
| Voting Members Governing Body | 13 | VotingMembersGoverningBodyCnt |
| Voting Members Independent | 12 | VotingMembersIndependentCnt |
| Total Employee | 162 | TotalEmployeeCnt |
| Total Volunteers | 13 | TotalVolunteersCnt |
| Total Gross UBI | $202,933 | TotalGrossUBIAmt |
| Net Unrelated Bus Txbl Incm | $137,708 | NetUnrelatedBusTxblIncmAmt |
| PY Contributions Grants | $37,366,751 | PYContributionsGrantsAmt |
| CY Contributions Grants | $36,816,824 | CYContributionsGrantsAmt |
| PY Program Service Revenue | $620,950 | PYProgramServiceRevenueAmt |
| CY Program Service Revenue | $77,000 | CYProgramServiceRevenueAmt |
| PY Investment Income | $514,196 | PYInvestmentIncomeAmt |
| CY Investment Income | $146,510 | CYInvestmentIncomeAmt |
| PY Other Revenue | $744,987 | PYOtherRevenueAmt |
| CY Other Revenue | $472,758 | CYOtherRevenueAmt |
| PY Total Revenue | $39,246,884 | PYTotalRevenueAmt |
| CY Total Revenue | $37,513,092 | CYTotalRevenueAmt |
| PY Grants And Similar Paid | $1,384,457 | PYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt |
| CY Grants And Similar Paid | $1,728,901 | CYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt |
| PY Benefits Paid To Members | $0 | PYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt |
| CY Benefits Paid To Members | $0 | CYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt |
| PY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid | $20,702,693 | PYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt |
| CY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid | $22,874,147 | CYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt |
| PY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns | $9,600 | PYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt |
| CY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns | $13,300 | CYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt |
| CY Total Fundraising Expense | $1,436,519 | CYTotalFundraisingExpenseAmt |
| PY Other Expenses | $6,533,836 | PYOtherExpensesAmt |
| CY Other Expenses | $5,591,844 | CYOtherExpensesAmt |
| PY Total Expenses | $28,630,586 | PYTotalExpensesAmt |
| CY Total Expenses | $30,208,192 | CYTotalExpensesAmt |
| PY Revenues Less Expenses | $10,616,298 | PYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt |
| CY Revenues Less Expenses | $7,304,900 | CYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt |
| Total Assets BOY | $51,252,809 | TotalAssetsBOYAmt |
| Total Assets EOY | $58,666,359 | TotalAssetsEOYAmt |
| Total Liabilities BOY | $748,489 | TotalLiabilitiesBOYAmt |
| Total Liabilities EOY | $883,526 | TotalLiabilitiesEOYAmt |
| Net Assets Or Fund Balances BOY | $50,504,320 | NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt |
| Net Assets Or Fund Balances EOY | $57,782,833 | NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt |
| Info In Schedule O Part III | Yes (X) | InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd |
| Mission | PRO PUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR WORK FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON TRULY IMPORTANT STORIES. WE PRODUCE JOURNALISM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON EXPLOITATION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG AND ON THE FAILURES OF THOSE WITH POWER TO VINDICATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM. IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE AIM TO STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE, UNCOVERING UNSAVORY PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER IN ORDER TO PROD REFORM. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY.OUR STATED MISSION IS "TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING." | MissionDesc |
| Significant New Program Srvc | 0 | SignificantNewProgramSrvcInd |
| Significant Change | 0 | SignificantChangeInd |
| Expense | $25,867,160 | ExpenseAmt |
| Grant | $1,728,901 | GrantAmt |
| Revenue | $146,395 | RevenueAmt |
| Desc | INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST:OUR JOURNALISM SPURRED DRAMATIC CHANGES IN 2020. SEN. RICHARD BURR RESIGNED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AFTER OUR REVELATIONS ABOUT HIS STOCK TRADING JUST BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS MARKET CRASH. AFTER 33 YEARS BEHIND BARS, A MAN OUR REPORTING SHOWED WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN TEXAS. CHICAGO'S PUNITIVE TICKETING PRACTICES WERE OUTLAWED AFTER WE SHINED A LIGHT ON THEM. AFTER OUR STORY, CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION TO STOP UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCIES FROM DEMANDING MONEY BACK WHEN THEY MISTAKENLY OVERPAY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKED OUT OF WHAT WE REVEALED TO BE MULTIPLE SKETCHY CORONAVIRUS CONTRACTS, AND LANDLORDS ACROSS FOUR STATES REVERSED ILLEGAL EVICTION FILINGS IN THE FACE OF OUR INQUIRIES.OUR WORK BROUGHT CLARITY TO THE STAKES AND CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19, INCLUDING STORIES ON MISSTEPS AT THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THAT HAMPERED THE NATION'S ABILITY TO TRACK AND CONTAIN THE VIRUS'S SPREAD, AS WELL AS UNPRECEDENTED WHITE HOUSE MEDDLING INSIDE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY. WE PUBLISHED CRITICAL EXPLANATORY PIECES ON ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS, ANTIBODY TESTS AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS. STORIES ALSO SHED LIGHT ON RACE AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, INEQUITIES IN MICHIGAN'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN TEEN INCARCERATED FOR FAILING TO COMPLETE HER ONLINE COURSEWORK), AND RACIAL DISPARITIES ACROSS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. PROPUBLICA'S ELECTIONLAND ALSO PRODUCED REVELATORY REPORTING ON U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SLOWDOWNS, VOTING-BY-MAIL CONCERNS AND THE PROLIFERATION OF VOTING MISINFORMATION. | Desc |
| Total Program Service Expenses | $25,867,160 | TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt |
| Described In Section501c3 | Yes (1) | DescribedInSection501c3Ind |
| Schedule B Required | Yes (1) | ScheduleBRequiredInd |
| Political Campaign Acty | 0 | PoliticalCampaignActyInd |
| Lobbying Activities | 0 | LobbyingActivitiesInd |
| Subject To Proxy Tax | 0 | SubjectToProxyTaxInd |
| Donor Advised Fund | 0 | DonorAdvisedFundInd |
| Conservation Easements | 0 | ConservationEasementsInd |
| Collections Of Art | 0 | CollectionsOfArtInd |
| Credit Counseling | 0 | CreditCounselingInd |
| Donor Rstr Or Quasi Endowments | 0 | DonorRstrOrQuasiEndowmentsInd |
| Report Land Building Equipment | Yes (1) | ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd |
| Report Investments Other Sec | 0 | ReportInvestmentsOtherSecInd |
| Report Program Related Invst | 0 | ReportProgramRelatedInvstInd |
| Report Other Assets | 0 | ReportOtherAssetsInd |
| Report Other Liabilities | 0 | ReportOtherLiabilitiesInd |
| Include FIN48 Footnote | Yes (1) | IncludeFIN48FootnoteInd |
| Independent Audit Fincl Stmt | Yes (1) | IndependentAuditFinclStmtInd |
| Consolidated Audit Fincl Stmt | 0 | ConsolidatedAuditFinclStmtInd |
| School Operating | 0 | SchoolOperatingInd |
| Foreign Office | 0 | ForeignOfficeInd |
| Foreign Activities | 0 | ForeignActivitiesInd |
| More Than5000 K To Org | 0 | MoreThan5000KToOrgInd |
| More Than5000 K To Individuals | 0 | MoreThan5000KToIndividualsInd |
| Professional Fundraising | 0 | ProfessionalFundraisingInd |
| Fundraising Activities | 0 | FundraisingActivitiesInd |
| Gaming Activities | 0 | GamingActivitiesInd |
| Operate Hospital | 0 | OperateHospitalInd |
| Grants To Organizations | Yes (1) | GrantsToOrganizationsInd |
| Grants To Individuals | Yes (1) | GrantsToIndividualsInd |
| Schedule J Required | Yes (1) | ScheduleJRequiredInd |
| Tax Exempt Bonds | 0 | TaxExemptBondsInd |
| Engaged In Excess Benefit Trans | 0 | EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd |
| PY Excess Benefit Trans | 0 | PYExcessBenefitTransInd |
| Loan Outstanding | 0 | LoanOutstandingInd |
| Grant To Related Person | 0 | GrantToRelatedPersonInd |
| Business Rln With Org Mem | 0 | BusinessRlnWithOrgMemInd |
| Business Rln With Fam Mem | 0 | BusinessRlnWithFamMemInd |
| Business Rln With35 Ctrl Ent | 0 | BusinessRlnWith35CtrlEntInd |
| Deductible Non Cash Contri | Yes (1) | DeductibleNonCashContriInd |
| Deductible Art Contribution | 0 | DeductibleArtContributionInd |
| Terminate Operations | 0 | TerminateOperationsInd |
| Partial Liquidation | 0 | PartialLiquidationInd |
| Disregarded Entity | 0 | DisregardedEntityInd |
| Related Entity | 0 | RelatedEntityInd |
| Related Organization Ctrl Ent | 0 | RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd |
| Trnsfr Exmpt Non Chrtbl Rltd Org | 0 | TrnsfrExmptNonChrtblRltdOrgInd |
| Activities Conducted Prtshp | 0 | ActivitiesConductedPrtshpInd |
| Schedule O Required | Yes (1) | ScheduleORequiredInd |
| IRP Document | 187 | IRPDocumentCnt |
| IRP Document W2 G | 0 | IRPDocumentW2GCnt |
| Employee | 162 | EmployeeCnt |
| Employment Tax Returns Filed | Yes (1) | EmploymentTaxReturnsFiledInd |
| Unrelated Bus Incm Over Limit | Yes (1) | UnrelatedBusIncmOverLimitInd |
| Form990 T Filed | Yes (1) | Form990TFiledInd |
| Foreign Financial Account | 0 | ForeignFinancialAccountInd |
| Prohibited Tax Shelter Trans | 0 | ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd |
| Taxable Party Notification | 0 | TaxablePartyNotificationInd |
| Nondeductible Contributions | 0 | NondeductibleContributionsInd |
| Quid Pro Quo Contributions | 0 | QuidProQuoContributionsInd |
| Form8282 Property Disposed Of | 0 | Form8282PropertyDisposedOfInd |
| Rcv Fnds To Pay Prsnl Bnft Cntrct | 0 | RcvFndsToPayPrsnlBnftCntrctInd |
| Pay Premiums Prsnl Bnft Cntrct | 0 | PayPremiumsPrsnlBnftCntrctInd |
| Indoor Tanning Services | 0 | IndoorTanningServicesInd |
| Subj To Tax Rmnrtn Ex Prcht Pymt | 0 | SubjToTaxRmnrtnExPrchtPymtInd |
| Subject To Excs Tax Net Invst Inc | 0 | SubjectToExcsTaxNetInvstIncInd |
| Info In Schedule O Part VI | Yes (X) | InfoInScheduleOPartVIInd |
| Governing Body Voting Members | 13 | GoverningBodyVotingMembersCnt |
| Independent Voting Member | 12 | IndependentVotingMemberCnt |
| Family Or Business Rln | 0 | FamilyOrBusinessRlnInd |
| Delegation Of Mgmt Duties | 0 | DelegationOfMgmtDutiesInd |
| Change To Org Documents | 0 | ChangeToOrgDocumentsInd |
| Material Diversion Or Misuse | 0 | MaterialDiversionOrMisuseInd |
| Members Or Stockholders | 0 | MembersOrStockholdersInd |
| Election Of Board Members | 0 | ElectionOfBoardMembersInd |
| Decisions Subject To Approva | 0 | DecisionsSubjectToApprovaInd |
| Minutes Of Governing Body | Yes (1) | MinutesOfGoverningBodyInd |
| Minutes Of Committees | Yes (1) | MinutesOfCommitteesInd |
| Officer Mailing Address | 0 | OfficerMailingAddressInd |
| Local Chapters | 0 | LocalChaptersInd |
| Form990 Provided To Gvrn Body | Yes (1) | Form990ProvidedToGvrnBodyInd |
| Conflict Of Interest Policy | Yes (1) | ConflictOfInterestPolicyInd |
| Annual Disclosure Covered Prsn | Yes (1) | AnnualDisclosureCoveredPrsnInd |
| Regular Monitoring Enfrc | Yes (1) | RegularMonitoringEnfrcInd |
| Whistleblower Policy | Yes (1) | WhistleblowerPolicyInd |
| Document Retention Policy | Yes (1) | DocumentRetentionPolicyInd |
| Compensation Process CEO | Yes (1) | CompensationProcessCEOInd |
| Compensation Process Other | 0 | CompensationProcessOtherInd |
| Investment In Joint Venture | 0 | InvestmentInJointVentureInd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | AL | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | AR | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | CA | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | FL | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | GA | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | HI | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | IL | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | KS | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | KY | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | MD | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | MA | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | MI | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | MN | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | NH | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | NJ | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | NM | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | NY | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | NC | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | ND | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | OR | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | PA | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | RI | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | SC | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | TN | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | UT | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | VA | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | WV | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld | WI | StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd |
| Own Website | Yes (X) | OwnWebsiteInd |
| Other Website | Yes (X) | OtherWebsiteInd |
| Upon Request | Yes (X) | UponRequestInd |
Books In Care Of Detail BooksInCareOfDetail
Business Name BusinessName
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name Line1 | STEPHANIE N LITTLE VP FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION | BusinessNameLine1Txt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 2125145250 | PhoneNum |
US Address USAddress
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Line1 | 155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL | AddressLine1Txt |
| City | NEW YORK | CityNm |
| State Abbreviation | NY | StateAbbreviationCd |
| ZIP | 10013 | ZIPCd |
Form990 Part VII Section A Form990PartVIISectionAGrp (22 entries)
| TitleTitleTxt | Average Hours Per WeekAverageHoursPerWeekRt | Individual Trustee Or DirectorIndividualTrusteeOrDirectorInd | OfficerOfficerInd | Reportable Comp From OrgReportableCompFromOrgAmt | Reportable Comp From Rltd OrgReportableCompFromRltdOrgAmt | Other CompensationOtherCompensationAmt | Highest Compensated EmployeeHighestCompensatedEmployeeInd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL E STEIGER | |||||||
| EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN | 30.00 | Yes (X) | Yes (X) | $49,325 | $0 | $6,617 | |
| PAUL SAGAN | |||||||
| CHAIRMAN | 2.00 | Yes (X) | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| DANIELLE ALLEN | |||||||
| DIRECTOR THRU 12/13/20 | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| CLAIRE BERNARD | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| MARK COLODNY | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| STEVE DAETZ | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| ANGELA FILO | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| HENRY LOUIS GATES JR | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| CLAIRE HOFFMAN | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| KATIE MCGRATH | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| ROBERT CS MONKS | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| RONALD OLSON | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| JAMES STONE | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| S DONALD SUSSMAN | |||||||
| DIRECTOR | 1.00 | Yes (X) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| STEPHEN ENGELBERG | |||||||
| CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | 40.00 | Yes (X) | $418,112 | $0 | $51,331 | ||
| RICHARD TOFEL PRESIDENT | |||||||
| CO-CEO & TREASURER | 40.00 | Yes (X) | $427,692 | $0 | $27,187 | ||
| RAGAN RHYNE VICE PRESIDENT OF | |||||||
| DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY | 40.00 | Yes (X) | $265,159 | $0 | $14,760 | ||
| ROBIN FIELDS | |||||||
| MANAGING EDITOR | 40.00 | $306,360 | $0 | $17,976 | Yes (X) | ||
| JESSE EISINGER | |||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR & REPORTER | 40.00 | $242,770 | $0 | $46,753 | Yes (X) | ||
| CHARLES ORNSTEIN | |||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR | 40.00 | $241,461 | $0 | $43,904 | Yes (X) | ||
| TRACY WEBER | |||||||
| DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR | 40.00 | $233,262 | $0 | $34,915 | Yes (X) | ||
| JOSEPH SEXTON | |||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR | 40.00 | $227,524 | $0 | $31,980 | Yes (X) | ||
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Reportable Comp From Org | $2,411,665 | TotalReportableCompFromOrgAmt |
| Tot Reportable Comp Rltd Org | $0 | TotReportableCompRltdOrgAmt |
| Total Other Compensation | $275,423 | TotalOtherCompensationAmt |
| Indiv Rcvd Greater Than100 K | 84 | IndivRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt |
| Former Ofcr Employees Listed | 0 | FormerOfcrEmployeesListedInd |
| Total Comp Greater Than150 K | Yes (1) | TotalCompGreaterThan150KInd |
| Compensation From Other Srcs | 0 | CompensationFromOtherSrcsInd |
Contractor Compensation ContractorCompensationGrp (2 entries)
| Address Line1ContractorAddress/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt | CityContractorAddress/USAddress/CityNm | State AbbreviationContractorAddress/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCd | ZIPContractorAddress/USAddress/ZIPCd | ServicesServicesDesc | CompensationCompensationAmt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RYAN MCCARTHY | |||||
| 240 12TH STREET APT 2 | BROOKLYN | NY | 11215 | EDITING SERVICES | $142,658 |
| AMAZON WEB SERVICES | |||||
| PO BOX 84023 | SEATTLE | WA | 981248423 | WEBSITE HOSTING SERVICES | $132,697 |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Cntrct Rcvd Greater Than100 K | 2 | CntrctRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt |
| All Other Contributions | $36,816,824 | AllOtherContributionsAmt |
| Noncash Contributions | $306,075 | NoncashContributionsAmt |
| Total Contributions | $36,816,824 | TotalContributionsAmt |
Program Service Revenue ProgramServiceRevenueGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Desc | JOURNALISM AND EDITORIAL FEES | Desc |
| Business | 519130 | BusinessCd |
| Total Revenue Column | $77,000 | TotalRevenueColumnAmt |
| Related Or Exempt Func Income | $77,000 | RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Program Service Revenue | $77,000 | TotalProgramServiceRevenueAmt |
Investment Income InvestmentIncomeGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue Column | $146,204 | TotalRevenueColumnAmt |
| Exclusion | $146,204 | ExclusionAmt |
Royalties Revenue RoyaltiesRevenueGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue Column | $123,700 | TotalRevenueColumnAmt |
| Related Or Exempt Func Income | $69,395 | RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt |
| Exclusion | $54,305 | ExclusionAmt |
Gross Amount Sales Assets GrossAmountSalesAssetsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Securities | $308,498 | SecuritiesAmt |
Less Cost Oth Basis Sales Expnss LessCostOthBasisSalesExpnssGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Securities | $308,192 | SecuritiesAmt |
Gain Or Loss GainOrLossGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Securities | $306 | SecuritiesAmt |
Net Gain Or Loss Investments NetGainOrLossInvestmentsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue Column | $306 | TotalRevenueColumnAmt |
| Exclusion | $306 | ExclusionAmt |
Other Revenue Misc OtherRevenueMiscGrp (3 entries)
| DescDesc | BusinessBusinessCd | Total Revenue ColumnTotalRevenueColumnAmt | Unrelated Business RevenueUnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt | ExclusionExclusionAmt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVERTISING REVENUE | 541800 | $202,933 | $202,933 | |
| INSURANCE REIMB. OF LEGAL FEES | 900099 | $116,536 | $116,536 | |
| HONORARIA AND OTHER REVENUE | 900099 | $29,589 | $29,589 |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Other Revenue Total | $349,058 | OtherRevenueTotalAmt |
Total Revenue TotalRevenueGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue Column | $37,513,092 | TotalRevenueColumnAmt |
| Related Or Exempt Func Income | $146,395 | RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt |
| Unrelated Business Revenue | $202,933 | UnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt |
| Exclusion | $346,940 | ExclusionAmt |
Grants To Domestic Orgs GrantsToDomesticOrgsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,577,740 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $1,577,740 | ProgramServicesAmt |
Grants To Domestic Individuals GrantsToDomesticIndividualsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $151,161 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $151,161 | ProgramServicesAmt |
Comp Current Ofcr Directors CompCurrentOfcrDirectorsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,260,183 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $525,386 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $454,878 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $279,919 | FundraisingAmt |
Other Salaries And Wages OtherSalariesAndWagesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $17,660,400 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $15,653,192 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $1,553,651 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $453,557 | FundraisingAmt |
Pension Plan Contributions PensionPlanContributionsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $726,400 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $646,382 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $62,457 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $17,561 | FundraisingAmt |
Other Employee Benefits OtherEmployeeBenefitsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,839,632 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $1,590,044 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $175,955 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $73,633 | FundraisingAmt |
Payroll Taxes PayrollTaxesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,387,532 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $1,209,191 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $129,003 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $49,338 | FundraisingAmt |
Fees For Services Legal FeesForServicesLegalGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $190,501 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $165,150 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $9,961 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $15,390 | FundraisingAmt |
Fees For Services Accounting FeesForServicesAccountingGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $63,650 | TotalAmt |
| Management And General | $63,650 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
Fees For Services Prof Fundraising FeesForServicesProfFundraising
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $13,300 | TotalAmt |
| Fundraising | $13,300 | FundraisingAmt |
Fees For Services Other FeesForServicesOtherGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $535,731 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $526,985 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $7,782 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $964 | FundraisingAmt |
Advertising AdvertisingGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $285,185 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $225,449 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $49,376 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $10,360 | FundraisingAmt |
Office Expenses OfficeExpensesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $616,704 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $268,606 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $36,206 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $311,892 | FundraisingAmt |
Information Technology InformationTechnologyGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $942,927 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $748,890 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $87,087 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $106,950 | FundraisingAmt |
Occupancy OccupancyGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,300,263 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $1,112,105 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $126,666 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $61,492 | FundraisingAmt |
Travel TravelGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $387,796 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $376,594 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $7,375 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $3,827 | FundraisingAmt |
Conferences Meetings ConferencesMeetingsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $18,058 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $16,172 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $450 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $1,436 | FundraisingAmt |
Depreciation Depletion DepreciationDepletionGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $329,604 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $280,164 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $32,960 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $16,480 | FundraisingAmt |
Insurance InsuranceGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $364,973 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $287,716 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $60,316 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $16,941 | FundraisingAmt |
Other Expenses OtherExpensesGrp (4 entries)
| DescDesc | TotalTotalAmt | Management And GeneralManagementAndGeneralAmt | Program ServicesProgramServicesAmt | FundraisingFundraisingAmt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBIT TAX EXPENSE | $6,900 | $6,900 | ||
| PUBLIC REC. COP. & SUBS | $339,338 | $339,338 | ||
| RECRUITMENT/PROF DEVEL. | $125,428 | $32,041 | $92,204 | $1,183 |
| REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE | $54,268 | $4,747 | $47,225 | $2,296 |
All Other Expenses AllOtherExpensesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $30,518 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $27,466 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $3,052 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
Total Functional Expenses TotalFunctionalExpensesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $30,208,192 | TotalAmt |
| Program Services | $25,867,160 | ProgramServicesAmt |
| Management And General | $2,904,513 | ManagementAndGeneralAmt |
| Fundraising | $1,436,519 | FundraisingAmt |
Cash Non Interest Bearing CashNonInterestBearingGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $5,266,631 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $4,195,076 | EOYAmt |
Savings And Temp Cash Invst SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $27,716,756 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $37,782,891 | EOYAmt |
Pledges And Grants Receivable PledgesAndGrantsReceivableGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $16,985,216 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $15,350,410 | EOYAmt |
Accounts Receivable AccountsReceivableGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $24,712 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $27,793 | EOYAmt |
Prepaid Expenses Defrd Charges PrepaidExpensesDefrdChargesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $530,134 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $764,575 | EOYAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Land Bldg Equip Cost Or Other Bss | $1,375,843 | LandBldgEquipCostOrOtherBssAmt |
| Land Bldg Equip Accum Deprec | $890,739 | LandBldgEquipAccumDeprecAmt |
Land Bldg Equip Basis Net LandBldgEquipBasisNetGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $628,991 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $485,104 | EOYAmt |
Investments Pub Traded Sec InvestmentsPubTradedSecGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $15,200 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $14,866 | EOYAmt |
Other Assets Total OtherAssetsTotalGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $85,169 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $45,644 | EOYAmt |
Total Assets TotalAssetsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $51,252,809 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $58,666,359 | EOYAmt |
Accounts Payable Accr Expnss AccountsPayableAccrExpnssGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $254,144 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $462,210 | EOYAmt |
Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenueGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $494,345 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $421,316 | EOYAmt |
Total Liabilities TotalLiabilitiesGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $748,489 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $883,526 | EOYAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Organization Follows FASB117 | Yes (X) | OrganizationFollowsFASB117Ind |
No Donor Restriction Net Assets NoDonorRestrictionNetAssetsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $28,252,244 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $34,370,956 | EOYAmt |
Donor Restriction Net Assets DonorRestrictionNetAssetsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $22,252,076 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $23,411,877 | EOYAmt |
Total Net Assets Fund Balance TotalNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $50,504,320 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $57,782,833 | EOYAmt |
Tot Liab Net Assets Fund Balance TotLiabNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| BOY | $51,252,809 | BOYAmt |
| EOY | $58,666,359 | EOYAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Info In Schedule O Part XI | Yes (X) | InfoInScheduleOPartXIInd |
| Reconcilation Revenue Expnss | $7,304,900 | ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt |
| Net Unrlzd Gains Losses Invst | -$24,495 | NetUnrlzdGainsLossesInvstAmt |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | -$1,892 | OtherChangesInNetAssetsAmt |
| Info In Schedule O Part XII | Yes (X) | InfoInScheduleOPartXIIInd |
| Method Of Accounting Accrual | Yes (X) | MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd |
| Accountant Compile Or Review | 0 | AccountantCompileOrReviewInd |
| FS Audited | Yes (1) | FSAuditedInd |
FS Audited Basis FSAuditedBasisGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Basis Fincl Stmt | Yes (X) | SeparateBasisFinclStmtInd |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee | Yes (1) | AuditCommitteeInd |
| Federal Grant Audit Required | 0 | FederalGrantAuditRequiredInd |
Schedule A IRS990ScheduleA
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Organization170 | Yes (X) | PublicOrganization170Ind |
Gifts Grants Contri Rcvd170 GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Tax Year Minus4 Years | $13,765,153 | CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus3 Years | $43,063,123 | CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus2 Years | $25,576,127 | CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus1 Year | $37,366,751 | CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt |
| Current Tax Year | $36,816,824 | CurrentTaxYearAmt |
| Total | $156,587,978 | TotalAmt |
Total Calendar Year170 TotalCalendarYear170Grp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Tax Year Minus4 Years | $13,765,153 | CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus3 Years | $43,063,123 | CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus2 Years | $25,576,127 | CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus1 Year | $37,366,751 | CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt |
| Current Tax Year | $36,816,824 | CurrentTaxYearAmt |
| Total | $156,587,978 | TotalAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Substantial Contributors Tot | $21,552,941 | SubstantialContributorsTotAmt |
| Public Support Total170 | $135,035,037 | PublicSupportTotal170Amt |
Gross Investment Income170 GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Tax Year Minus4 Years | $105,365 | CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus3 Years | $91,606 | CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus2 Years | $449,799 | CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus1 Year | $635,480 | CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt |
| Current Tax Year | $200,509 | CurrentTaxYearAmt |
| Total | $1,482,759 | TotalAmt |
Unrelated Business Net Incm170 UnrelatedBusinessNetIncm170Grp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Tax Year Minus4 Years | $8,230 | CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus3 Years | $52,755 | CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus2 Years | $36,395 | CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus1 Year | $68,949 | CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt |
| Current Tax Year | $137,708 | CurrentTaxYearAmt |
| Total | $304,037 | TotalAmt |
Other Income170 OtherIncome170Grp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Tax Year Minus4 Years | $245,214 | CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus3 Years | $108,258 | CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus2 Years | $230,179 | CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt |
| Current Tax Year Minus1 Year | $454,278 | CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt |
| Current Tax Year | $146,125 | CurrentTaxYearAmt |
| Total | $1,184,054 | TotalAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Support | $159,558,828 | TotalSupportAmt |
| Gross Receipts Rltd Activities | $1,860,963 | GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt |
| Public Support CY170 | 0.84630 | PublicSupportCY170Pct |
| Public Support PY170 | 0.78480 | PublicSupportPY170Pct |
| Thirty Thr Pct Suprt Tests CY170 | Yes (X) | ThirtyThrPctSuprtTestsCY170Ind |
Form990 Schedule A Part VI Form990ScheduleAPartVIGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Form And Line Reference | SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: | FormAndLineReferenceDesc |
| Explanation | HONORARIA AND OTHER REVENUE - 2016 AMOUNT: $ 26,750. 2017 AMOUNT: $ 90,734. 2018 AMOUNT: $ 77,346. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 49,055. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 29,589. INSURANCE REIMB OF LEGAL FEES - 2016 AMOUNT: $ 218,464. 2017 AMOUNT: $ 17,524. 2018 AMOUNT: $ 152,833. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 405,223. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 116,536. | ExplanationTxt |
Schedule B IRS990ScheduleB
Contributor Information ContributorInformationGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Contributor | RESTRICTED | ContributorNum |
Contributor Business Name ContributorBusinessName
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name Line1 | RESTRICTED | BusinessNameLine1 |
Contributor US Address ContributorUSAddress
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Line1 | RESTRICTED | AddressLine1 |
| Address Line2 | RESTRICTED | AddressLine2 |
| City | RESTRICTED | City |
| State | RESTRICTED | State |
| ZIP Code | RESTRICTED | ZIPCode |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Contributions | RESTRICTED | TotalContributionsAmt |
Schedule D IRS990ScheduleD
Leasehold Improvements LeaseholdImprovementsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Other Cost Or Other Basis | $266,318 | OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt |
| Depreciation | $133,165 | DepreciationAmt |
| Book Value | $133,153 | BookValueAmt |
Equipment EquipmentGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Other Cost Or Other Basis | $783,726 | OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt |
| Depreciation | $569,269 | DepreciationAmt |
| Book Value | $214,457 | BookValueAmt |
Other Land Buildings OtherLandBuildingsGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Other Cost Or Other Basis | $325,799 | OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt |
| Depreciation | $188,305 | DepreciationAmt |
| Book Value | $137,494 | BookValueAmt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Book Value Land Buildings | $485,104 | TotalBookValueLandBuildingsAmt |
| Footnote Text | Yes (X) | FootnoteTextInd |
| Total Rev Etc Audited Fincl Stmt | $37,370,169 | TotalRevEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt |
| Net Unrealized Gains Invst | -$24,495 | NetUnrealizedGainsInvstAmt |
| Revenue Not Reported | -$24,495 | RevenueNotReportedAmt |
| Revenue Subtotal | $37,394,664 | RevenueSubtotalAmt |
| Other Revenues Not Included | $118,428 | OtherRevenuesNotIncludedAmt |
| Revenue Not Reported Fincl Stmt | $118,428 | RevenueNotReportedFinclStmtAmt |
| Total Revenue Per Form990 | $37,513,092 | TotalRevenuePerForm990Amt |
| Tot Expns Etc Audited Fincl Stmt | $30,091,656 | TotExpnsEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt |
| Expenses Not Reported | $0 | ExpensesNotReportedAmt |
| Expenses Subtotal | $30,091,656 | ExpensesSubtotalAmt |
| Other Expenses Not Included | $116,536 | OtherExpensesNotIncludedAmt |
| Expenses Not Rpt Fincl Stmt | $116,536 | ExpensesNotRptFinclStmtAmt |
| Total Expenses Per Form990 | $30,208,192 | TotalExpensesPerForm990Amt |
Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (3 entries)
| Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDesc | ExplanationExplanationTxt |
|---|---|
| PART X, LINE 2: | THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE EFFECT OF INCOME TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT OF BEING SUSTAINED. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO EXAMINATIONS BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING JURISDICTIONS FOR PERIODS PRIOR TO 2017. |
| PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: | REIMBURSEMENTS OF LEGAL DEFENSE EXPENSES REPORTED ON PART VIII 116,536. LOSS ON DISPOSAL OF ASSET 1,892. |
| PART XII, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: | REIMBURSEMENTS OF LEGAL DEFENSE EXPENSES REPORTED ON PART VIII 116,536. |
Schedule I IRS990ScheduleI
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Records Maintained | Yes (1) | GrantRecordsMaintainedInd |
Recipient Table RecipientTable (31 entries)
| Address Line1USAddress/AddressLine1Txt | CityUSAddress/CityNm | State AbbreviationUSAddress/StateAbbreviationCd | ZIPUSAddress/ZIPCd | Recipient EINRecipientEIN | Cash GrantCashGrantAmt | Purpose Of GrantPurposeOfGrantTxt | IRC SectionIRCSectionDesc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS | |||||||
| 300 W31ST AVENUE | ANCHORAGE | AK | 99503 | 371869203 | $92,256 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| ARIZONA DAILY STAR | |||||||
| 4850 SOUTH PARK AVENUE | TUSCON | AZ | 85714 | 860621785 | $77,291 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| ASBURY PARK PRESS | |||||||
| 3600 HIGHWAY 66 | NEPTUNE | NJ | 07554 | 061032273 | $83,025 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| BAY CITY NEWS FOUNDATION | |||||||
| 900 HILLDALE AVENUE | BERKELEY | CA | 94708 | 830654488 | $92,256 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| BRYANT FURLOW LLC | |||||||
| 400 GOLD AVENUE SW FLOOR 7 | ALBUQUERQUE | NM | 87102 | 823961205 | $12,648 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| CHICAGO PUBIC MEDIA INC | |||||||
| 848 E GRAND AVENUE NAVY PIER | CHICAGO | IL | 60611 | 363687394 | $82,995 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| COASTALASKA INC | |||||||
| 360 EGAN DRIVE | JANEAU | AK | 99801 | 920162579 | $23,925 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| COMMUNITY LIFT CORP | |||||||
| 119 S COURT AVENUE SUITE 100 | MEMPHIS | TN | 38103 | 273941355 | $17,425 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| FRONTIER MEDIA GROUP | |||||||
| 12117 SOUTH 12TH COURT | JENKS | OK | 74307 | 814620550 | $29,520 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| GANNETT SHARED SERVICES CENTER (DESERT SUN PUBLISHING LLC) | |||||||
| 750 N GENE AUTRY TRAIL | PALM SPRINGS | CA | 92262 | 465738464 | $86,490 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION | |||||||
| 260 14TH ST NW | ATLANTA | GA | 30318 | 581496258 | $15,991 | PARTICIPATION IN PROPUBLICA'S ELECTIONLAND LOCAL REPORTING PROJECT | 501(C)(3) |
| KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | |||||||
| 619 SOUTH 4TH STREET | LOUISVILLE | KY | 40202 | 611259787 | $46,128 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| MAX BLAU MBW LLC | |||||||
| 1360 MEMORIAL DRIVE | ATLANTA | GA | 30317 | 371945751 | $64,575 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| MIAMI HERALD | |||||||
| 3511 NW 91 AVENUE | MIAMI | FL | 33172 | 205063905 | $50,316 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| MOUNTAIN STATE SPOTLIGHT | |||||||
| PO BOX 1111 | CHARLESTON | WV | 25324 | 851154363 | $11,685 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| NASHVILLE PUBLIC RADIO | |||||||
| 630 MAINSTREAM DRIVE | NASHVILLE | TN | 37228 | 621631652 | $18,840 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH | |||||||
| 808 DOUGLAS MACARTHUR NW | ALBURQUEQUE | NM | 87107 | 454011138 | $54,996 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| OAHU PUBLICATIONS INC | |||||||
| 500 ALA MOANA BLVD STE 7-500 | HONOLULU | HI | 96813 | 990353529 | $178,356 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING | |||||||
| 7140 SW MACADAM AVE | PORTLAND | OR | 97219 | 930814638 | $69,192 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH | |||||||
| 300 EAST FRANKLIN STREET | RICHMOND | VA | 23219 | 844721627 | $60,951 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO | |||||||
| 474 SOUTH RAYMOND AVENUE | PASADENA | CA | 91105 | 954765734 | $29,676 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC | |||||||
| 200 E VAN BUREN STREET | PHOENIX | AZ | 85004 | 860937358 | $25,430 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE BUSINESS JOURNAL | |||||||
| 25 E BOARDMAN STREET SUITE 306 | YOUNGSTOWN | OH | 44503 | 341461521 | $30,750 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE CAPITAL | |||||||
| 160 N STETSON 40TH FL | CHICAGO | IL | 60601 | 363779720 | $21,528 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE MAINE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING | |||||||
| PO BOX 284 | HALLOWEL | ME | 04347 | 272623867 | $67,164 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| THE NEWS & OBSERVER | |||||||
| 421 FAYETVILLE STREET SUITE 104 | RALEIGH | NC | 27601 | 560338580 | $67,620 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE PALM BEACH POST | |||||||
| 175 SULLYS TRAIL | PITTTSFORD | NY | 14534 | 472464860 | $29,694 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER | |||||||
| 801 MARKET STREET SUITE 300 | PHILADELPHIA | PA | 19107 | 272937767 | $72,001 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | |
| THE TAMPA BAY TIMES | |||||||
| 490 1ST AVE | ST PETERSBURG | FL | 33701 | 590482470 | $21,525 | PARTICIPATION IN PROPUBLICA'S ELECTIONLAND LOCAL REPORTING PROJECT | |
| VPM MEDIA CORPORATION | |||||||
| 23 SESAME STREET | RICHMOND | VA | 23235 | 540735782 | $25,656 | PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE | 501(C)(3) |
| WCIJ INC | |||||||
| 821 UNIVERSITY AVENUE | MADISION | WI | 53706 | 262143608 | $17,835 | PARTICIPATION IN PROPUBLICA'S ELECTIONLAND LOCAL REPORTING PROJECT | 501(C)(3) |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Total501c3 Org | 13 | Total501c3OrgCnt |
| Total Other Org | 18 | TotalOtherOrgCnt |
Grants Other Asst To Indiv In US GrantsOtherAsstToIndivInUSGrp (3 entries)
| Grant TypeGrantTypeTxt | RecipientRecipientCnt | Cash GrantCashGrantAmt |
|---|---|---|
| EMERGING REPORTER STIPEND | 11 | $49,500 |
| DIVERSITY STIPEND | 29 | $16,323 |
| LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK GRANT | 3 | $85,338 |
Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Form And Line Reference | PART I, LINE 2: | FormAndLineReferenceDesc |
| Explanation | A) STIPEND NARRATIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE: STIPEND PAYMENTS REPRESENT A FORM OF GRANT ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS PROPUBLICA OUTREACH PROGRAMS. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAMS ARE SELECTED VIA COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS IN WHICH THE APPLICANTS ARE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND CAREER PROSPECTS IN THE FIELD OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. FUNDING IS OFTEN PROVIDED AS A PART OF A GRANT RECEIVED BY PROPUBLICA. IN SUCH INSTANCES, THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE AND MAY INFORM THE STIPEND PAYMENT PROCESS. IF THE FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH PROPUBLICA'S GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, FUNDING AVAILABILITY IS DETERMINED BASED ON OVERALL BUDGETARY CONCERNS. BASED ON THESE PARAMETERS, PROGRAM DIRECTORS DETERMINE WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS APPLY: - ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE EQUAL STIPEND AMOUNTS. - ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE SOME STIPEND, WITH THE AWARD AMOUNT VARYING BASED ON DETERMINATION OF NEED. - SOME PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE STIPENDS, WITH THE AWARD AMOUNT VARYING BASED ON DETERMINATION OF NEED. IN THIS INSTANCE, APPLICANTS MUST APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE AS A SEPARATE PROCEDURE FROM THE GENERAL APPLICATION PROCESS AND ARE NOTIFIED THE AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE BASED ON GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING: - EXPLICITLY ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. - PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING BASED ON PRE-DETERMINED FUND AVAILABILITY. - EXPLAIN HOW THE FUNDING WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM WHEN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. IF THE CASE IS COMPELLING, THE REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IS GRANTED UP TO THE LIMITS OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE. IF THE EXPLANATION OF NEED INCLUDES THE COST OF EXPENSES THAT ARE ALREADY COVERED FOR ALL ATTENDEES, THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT MAY BE REDUCED ACCORDINGLY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PARTICULAR PROGRAM COVERS THE COST OF LODGING AND TRAVEL FOR ALL ATTENDEES AND LODGING/TRAVEL ARE INCLUDED IN THE EXPLANATION OF NEED, THE AMOUNT AWARDED MAY BE REDUCED. WHEN FUNDING IS PROVIDED VIA PASS-THROUGH GRANTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MONITORING OF FUND USAGE AND FOLLOW-UP ARE BASED UPON ONGOING VERBAL AND WRITTEN DIALOGUE, GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND WRITTEN GRANT REPORTS PROVIDED TO GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD. WHEN FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET DESIGNATION, PROPUBLICA MAINTAINS RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING AND BENEFITTING FROM GRANT FUNDS, INCLUDING COMPLETED W-9 FORMS. AS THESE GRANTS ARE NEED-BASED, SUCH FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE. B) NARRATIVE FOR ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOCAL REPORTING INITIATIVES: THE OTHER TYPE OF FUNDING PROPUBLICA PROVIDES IS THROUGH REGRANTING FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL REPORTING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK AND ELECTIONLAND. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, PROPUBLICA PARTNERS WITH LOCAL NEWSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A REPORTER TO WORK ON AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. MOST OFTEN, THE GRANTEE IS THE NEWSROOM ORGANIZATION ITSELF; HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY, FUNDING MAY BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO A REPORTER WITH AN AFFILIATION TO THE SELECTED NEWSROOM. NEWSROOMS ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE INITIATIVES VIA A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND IN ADDITION TO FUNDING, PARTNERS RECEIVE ACCESS TO PROPUBLICA RESOURCES INCLUDING EDITORS, TRAINING SESSIONS, AND CO-PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES. LOCAL GRANT AMOUNTS ARE DETERMINED BASED ON EACH REPORTER'S ANNUAL SALARY AND A STANDARD BENEFITS PERCENT ALLOCATION, WHICH WAS 23% FOR GRANTS ORIGINATING IN 2020, AND AMOUNTS ARE AGREED TO IN WRITING BY BOTH THE PARTICIPATING NEWSROOM AND PROPUBLICA. FUND USAGE IS MONITORED BY THE PROPUBLICA EDITORS WHO OVERSEE THE PROGRAMS AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE REPORTERS AND NEWSROOMS. ULTIMATELY, LOCAL GRANTEE REPORTERS ARE EXPECTED TO PUBLISH A FULL-LENGTH INVESTIGATIVE PIECE IN COORDINATION WITH PROPUBLICA. ALSO, PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN ACCOUNTING FOR FUNDS USAGE AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, WHICH MOST OFTEN INCLUDES A COPY OF THE FUNDED REPORTER'S W2 FOR THE FUNDED GRANT YEAR. | ExplanationTxt |
Schedule J IRS990ScheduleJ
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation Committee | Yes (X) | CompensationCommitteeInd |
| Independent Consultant | Yes (X) | IndependentConsultantInd |
| Form990 Of Other Organizations | Yes (X) | Form990OfOtherOrganizationsInd |
| Compensation Survey | Yes (X) | CompensationSurveyInd |
| Board Or Committee Approval | Yes (X) | BoardOrCommitteeApprovalInd |
| Severance Payment | 0 | SeverancePaymentInd |
| Supplemental Nonqual Rtr Plan | 0 | SupplementalNonqualRtrPlanInd |
| Equity Based Comp Arrngm | 0 | EquityBasedCompArrngmInd |
| Comp Based On Revenue Of Flng Org | 0 | CompBasedOnRevenueOfFlngOrgInd |
| Comp Bsd On Rev Related Orgs | 0 | CompBsdOnRevRelatedOrgsInd |
| Comp Bsd Net Earns Flng Org | 0 | CompBsdNetEarnsFlngOrgInd |
| Comp Bsd Net Earns Rltd Orgs | 0 | CompBsdNetEarnsRltdOrgsInd |
| Any Non Fixed Payments | 0 | AnyNonFixedPaymentsInd |
| Initial Contract Exception | 0 | InitialContractExceptionInd |
Rltd Org Officer Trst Key Empl RltdOrgOfficerTrstKeyEmplGrp (8 entries)
| TitleTitleTxt | Base Compensation Filing OrgBaseCompensationFilingOrgAmt | Compensation Based On Rltd OrgsCompensationBasedOnRltdOrgsAmt | Bonus Filing OrganizationBonusFilingOrganizationAmount | Bonus Related OrganizationsBonusRelatedOrganizationsAmt | Other Compensation Filing OrgOtherCompensationFilingOrgAmt | Other Compensation Rltd OrgsOtherCompensationRltdOrgsAmt | Deferred Compensation Flng OrgDeferredCompensationFlngOrgAmt | Deferred Comp Rltd OrgsDeferredCompRltdOrgsAmt | Nontaxable Benefits Filing OrgNontaxableBenefitsFilingOrgAmt | Nontaxable Benefits Rltd OrgsNontaxableBenefitsRltdOrgsAmt | Total Compensation Filing OrgTotalCompensationFilingOrgAmt | Total Compensation Rltd OrgsTotalCompensationRltdOrgsAmt | Comp Report Prior990 Filing OrgCompReportPrior990FilingOrgAmt | Comp Report Prior990 Rltd OrgsCompReportPrior990RltdOrgsAmt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN ENGELBERG | ||||||||||||||
| CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | $414,548 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,564 | $0 | $14,250 | $0 | $37,081 | $0 | $469,443 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD TOFEL PRESIDENT | ||||||||||||||
| CO-CEO & TREASURER | $424,128 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,564 | $0 | $14,250 | $0 | $12,937 | $0 | $454,879 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBIN FIELDS | ||||||||||||||
| MANAGING EDITOR | $305,118 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,242 | $0 | $7,650 | $0 | $10,326 | $0 | $324,336 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSE EISINGER | ||||||||||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR & REPORTER | $241,550 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,220 | $0 | $12,551 | $0 | $34,202 | $0 | $289,523 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES ORNSTEIN | ||||||||||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR | $240,714 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $747 | $0 | $12,550 | $0 | $31,354 | $0 | $285,365 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| RAGAN RHYNE VICE PRESIDENT OF | ||||||||||||||
| DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY | $264,619 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540 | $0 | $13,250 | $0 | $1,510 | $0 | $279,919 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY WEBER | ||||||||||||||
| DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR | $231,115 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,147 | $0 | $11,938 | $0 | $22,977 | $0 | $268,177 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH SEXTON | ||||||||||||||
| SENIOR EDITOR | $224,348 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,176 | $0 | $11,525 | $0 | $20,455 | $0 | $259,504 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Schedule M IRS990ScheduleM
Securities Publicly Traded SecuritiesPubliclyTradedGrp
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Non Cash Checkbox | Yes (X) | NonCashCheckboxInd |
| Contribution | 51 | ContributionCnt |
| Noncash Contributions Rpt F990 | $306,075 | NoncashContributionsRptF990Amt |
| Method Of Determining Revenues | AVG. SELLING PRICE | MethodOfDeterminingRevenuesTxt |
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Form8283 Received | 0 | Form8283ReceivedCnt |
| Any Property That Must Be Held | 0 | AnyPropertyThatMustBeHeldInd |
| Review Process Unusual NC Gifts | 0 | ReviewProcessUnusualNCGiftsInd |
| Third Parties Used | 0 | ThirdPartiesUsedInd |
Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail
| Field | Value | IRS element (for citing) |
|---|---|---|
| Form And Line Reference | PART I, COLUMN (B): | FormAndLineReferenceDesc |
| Explanation | THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN PART I, COLUMN (B) OF SCHEDULE M. | ExplanationTxt |
Schedule O IRS990ScheduleO
Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (14 entries)
| Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDesc | ExplanationExplanationTxt |
|---|---|
| IN 2020, PROPUBLICA ANNOUNCED A DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED COMMITMENT TO | LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM WITH THE FORTHCOMING LAUNCH OF REGIONAL REPORTING HUBS IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST, IN ADDITION TO BROADENING OUR ILLINOIS EFFORTS TO COVER A WIDER SWATH OF THE MIDWEST. PROJECTS FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR JOINT INITIATIVE WITH THE TEXAS TRIBUNE EXPOSED (AND ULTIMATELY HELPED REVERSE) THE PRACTICES OF A LENDER THAT SUED TEXAS BORROWERS AFTER THEY LOST JOBS TO THE PANDEMIC, AND THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS AND DISTURBING ORIGINS OF A PRIVATELY FUNDED PORTION OF TRUMP'S BORDER WALL. STORIES FROM THE PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK ILLUMINATED THE EROSION OF HAWAII'S BEACHES AND THE STATE'S FAILURE TO RETURN NATIVE HAWAIIANS TO ANCESTRAL LANDS, MAINE'S SHODDY AND PREDATORY LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE STATE'S POOREST DEFENDANTS, AND HOW OREGON HAS PRIORITIZED THE TIMBER INDUSTRY OVER THE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT. AUGMENTING THE LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, WE ANNOUNCED A LONGER-TERM DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS PROGRAM, ENABLING LOCAL REPORTERS TO PARTNER WITH PROPUBLICA FOR THREE YEARS AS THEY PRODUCE INVESTIGATIVE PROJECTS FROM THEIR HOME NEWSROOMS. PROPUBLICA WON THE PULITZER PRIZE - OUR SIXTH - FOR NATIONAL REPORTING FOR "DISASTER IN THE PACIFIC," A SERIES ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS IN THE NAVY'S 7TH FLEET AND THE PROBLEMATIC RESPONSE OF THE NAVY HIGH COMMAND. THE 2020 PULITZER GOLD MEDAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, THE NATION'S HIGHEST JOURNALISTIC HONOR, WAS AWARDED TO THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS IN COLLABORATION WITH PROPUBLICA FOR OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK SERIES ON MAJOR SHORTFALLS IN PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES IN RURAL ALASKA. OUR STORY ON AFRICAN AMERICAN LAND LOSS IN THE SOUTH, CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORKER, WON THE GEORGE POLK AWARD IN JOURNALISM FOR MAGAZINE REPORTING, AND OUR INVESTIGATION ON THE USE OF JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE WON THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR REPORTING. AS PROPUBLICA CONTINUES TO GROW - MORE THAN DOUBLING IN SIZE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS - WE EXPANDED OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM TO INCLUDE FIVE ADDITIONAL EDITORS AND REPORTERS. THIS MOVE HAS BOTH STRENGTHENED AND DIVERSIFIED OUR NEWS LEADERSHIP WITH JOURNALISTS WHOSE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE, LIFE EXPERIENCE AND INNOVATIVE THINKING HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL TO PRODUCING SOME OF OUR BEST WORK. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR STAFF OVERALL IS GROWING MORE DIVERSE, FROM 37% PEOPLE OF COLOR IN 2019 TO 40% IN 2020. OUR PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH 80 IN 2020 ALONE. PARTNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR INCLUDED THE NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORKER, THE ATLANTIC, UNIVISION, POLITICO, TELEMUNDO AND USA TODAY. PROPUBLICA IS CONTINUING TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES THROUGH THIRD-PARTY DISTRIBUTION PLATFORMS SUCH AS APPLE NEWS, MICROSOFT NEWS, GOOGLE NEWS AND SMARTNEWS. TRAFFIC GREW SUBSTANTIALLY ON SUCH PLATFORMS, WITH THESE MONTHLY AVERAGE PAGE VIEWS CLIMBING 81% TO 10.2 MILLION. TRAFFIC ON OUR OWN SITE ROSE 72% TO 9 MILLION PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH ON AVERAGE. IMPACT THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF PROPUBLICA IS WHETHER OUR WORK IS MAKING AN IMPACT. WE MEASURE OUR IMPACT NOT IN TERMS OF AUDIENCE SIZE OR HONORS BUT IN REAL-WORLD CHANGE. IN 2020, OUR JOURNALISM SPURRED SUCH CHANGE IN A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT AREAS. ALASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL RESIGNS AFTER TEXTS TO JUNIOR EMPLOYEE EXPOSED IN AUGUST, PROPUBLICA AND THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION REPORTING THAT ALASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEVIN CLARKSON SENT HUNDREDS OF TEXT MESSAGES TO A YOUNGER STATE EMPLOYEE - AT LEAST 558 MESSAGES IN MARCH ALONE - INVITING HER TO COME TO HIS HOME IN AT LEAST 18 OF THEM AND OFTEN USING KISS EMOJI. AT THE TIME OF OUR REPORTING, CLARKSON WAS ON A MONTHLONG LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY, BUT THE STATE HAD NEVER TOLD THE PUBLIC HE WAS GONE, OR WHY. RECORDS OBTAINED SHOWED THE ABRUPT ABSENCE CAME AFTER A JUNIOR STATE EMPLOYEE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TEXT MESSAGES. HOURS AFTER WE PUBLISHED OUR STORY, WHICH INCLUDED TEXTS OBTAINED BY PROPUBLICA AND THE DAILY NEWS, CLARKSON RESIGNED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. AFTER DUBIOUS CONVICTION (AND 33 YEARS), A RELEASE FROM PRISON IN 2018, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, ABOUT A BELOVED TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL NAMED JOE BRYAN WHO WAS CONVICTED OF HIS WIFE'S 1985 MURDER. HIS CONVICTION RESTED LARGELY ON BLOODSTAIN-PATTERN ANALYSIS, A DUBIOUS FORENSIC PRACTICE. THE STATE DENIED BRYAN PAROLE SEVEN TIMES, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY IN 2019, EVEN AFTER THE BLOODSTAIN-PATTERN ANALYST WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST BRYAN ADMITTED THAT HIS CONCLUSIONS WERE WRONG. IN MARCH 2020, THE PAROLE BOARD REVERSED COURSE AND - 33 YEARS AFTER HIS CONVICTION, AT AGE 79 - BRYAN WAS RELEASED ON PAROLE. FOLLOWING NATIONAL OUTRAGE, TEEN RELEASED FROM JUVENILE DETENTION LAST JULY, WITH THE DETROIT FREE PRESS AND BRIDGE MICHIGAN, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED THE STORY OF GRACE (HER MIDDLE NAME, USED TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY), A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM SUBURBAN DETROIT WHO HAD BEEN SENT TO A DETENTION CENTER FOR FAILING TO COMPLETE ONLINE SCHOOLWORK. JUDGE MARY ELLEN BRENNAN OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY JUVENILE COURT RULED THAT THIS HAD VIOLATED THE PROBATION GRACE HAD BEEN GIVEN WEEKS EARLIER FOR FIGHTING WITH HER MOTHER AND STEALING A CLASSMATE'S CELLPHONE. WITHIN DAYS OF THE STORY'S PUBLICATION, #FREEGRACE BECAME A TRENDING HASHTAG. PROTESTERS SHOWED UP OUTSIDE THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHERE SHE WAS SENTENCED, AND POLITICIANS - INCLUDING HILLARY CLINTON AND THEN-SEN. KAMALA HARRIS - CALLED FOR HER RELEASE. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER, THE MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS ORDERED GRACE'S RELEASE, AND SOON AFTER, BRENNAN DISMISSED HER CASE ENTIRELY. THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT'S OVERSIGHT AGENCY CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE THE COURT PROCEDURES IN GRACE'S CASE AND HAS ALREADY PROPOSED A RULE THAT WOULD BAN COURTS FROM USING HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES ON JUVENILES. GRACE'S SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO ISSUED AN APOLOGY AND INSTITUTED A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM. DIRECTOR OF MAINE'S PUBLIC DEFENSE AGENCY RESIGNS IN OCTOBER, PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER MAINE MONITOR INVESTIGATED HOW THE STATE HANDLES LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR. MAINE IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM. INSTEAD, THE STATE'S POOREST DEFENDANTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ACCESS TO PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CONTRACTED BY A STATE OFFICE CALLED THE MAINE COMMISSION ON INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THESE ATTORNEYS LACK OVERSIGHT FOR PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT AND HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH LEVELS OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT AND CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING FOR REPEAT DRUNKEN DRIVING AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. WITHIN A WEEK OF PUBLICATION, GOV. JANET MILLS SAID SHE WAS "DISTURBED" BY THE INVESTIGATION AND CALLED FOR A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO REFORM MAINE'S DEFENSE SYSTEM. AMID MOUNTING CRITICISM OF HIS MANAGEMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR MAINE'S POOR, JOHN PELLETIER STEPPED DOWN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION. CHICAGO'S PUNITIVE TICKETING PRACTICE OUTLAWED IN 2018, A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND WBEZ INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT CHICAGO USES AGGRESSIVE TICKETING PRACTICES AND PUNITIVE COLLECTION MEASURES TO BOOST REVENUE, DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING POOR, MINORITY RESIDENTS AND TRAPPING THEM IN SPIRALING DEBT. OUR REPORTING SPARKED NUMEROUS CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM. |
| MOST RECENTLY, IN JANUARY, GOV. J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THE LICENSE TO WORK AC | INTO LAW, WHICH ENDS THE PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSES OVER UNPAID PARKING TICKETS AND OTHER NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS. CDC SHUTS DOWN LAB INVOLVED IN BOTCHED CORONAVIRUS TESTS IN OCTOBER, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION INTO MEDDLING AT THE CDC FROM WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS DETERMINED TO PRIORITIZE THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE OVER PUBLIC HEALTH. THE REPORTING SHED LIGHT ON MISSTEPS AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY, INCLUDING LINE-BY-LINE EDITS THAT TRUMP ADVISERS MADE TO OFFICIAL HEALTH GUIDANCE AND A LAB DIRECTOR SENDING FAULTY COVID-19 TEST KITS TO STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH LABS - EVEN THOUGH HIS OWN STAFF'S QUALITY CHECKS SHOWED THEY MIGHT NOT WORK. LESS THAN SIX HOURS AFTER PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED THIS INVESTIGATION, THE CDC SHUT DOWN THE KEY LAB IMPLICATED IN THE FAULTY TESTS WHILE IT CONDUCTED ITS OWN INVESTIGATION AND DEVELOPED CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS. NEW LAW MANDATES TRANSPARENCY ON HEALTH INSURANCE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN 2019, PROPUBLICA AND NPR PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTING THE HIDDEN CASH AND GIFTS THAT HEALTH INSURERS PAY TO INFLUENCE THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE BROKERS WHO ADVISE EMPLOYERS ON WHICH INSURANCE TO CHOOSE FOR THEIR STAFF. THIS INFLUENCE ULTIMATELY HELPS DETERMINE THE HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ABOUT 150 MILLION AMERICANS. IN DECEMBER 2020, TUCKED INTO THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL, CONGRESS PASSED A NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENT FOR BROKERS TO DISCLOSE TO EMPLOYERS WHAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. DIRECTOR OF NEWARK HOSPITAL'S TROUBLING TRANSPLANT PROGRAM DEPARTS IN 2019, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE TRANSPLANT TEAM AT NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER THAT REVEALED ATTEMPTS TO ARTIFICIALLY INCREASE THE PROGRAM'S SURVIVAL RATE, AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR USED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS. IN ONE EGREGIOUS CASE, IT KEPT A PATIENT ALIVE IN A VEGETATIVE STATE FOR A FULL YEAR WITHOUT CONSULTING HIS FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT TREATMENT DECISIONS OR EXPLAINING THEIR OPTIONS FOR CARE. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION SPURRED BY PROPUBLICA'S ARTICLES, THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES FOUND THAT THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM WAS PUTTING PATIENTS IN "IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY AND DIRECTED THE HOSPITAL TO IMPLEMENT CORRECTIVE MEASURES. IN OCTOBER, THE HOSPITAL ANNOUNCED THAT, AFTER A YEARLONG ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, THE DIRECTOR OF NEWARK BETH ISRAEL'S HEART TRANSPLANT CENTER, DR. MARK ZUCKER, WAS DEPARTING AND NEWARK BETH ISRAEL IS CONDUCTING A SEARCH FOR HIS REPLACEMENT. TURBOTAX ABUSES SPOTLIGHTED IN STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS IN 2019, PROPUBLICA SHOWED HOW TURBOTAX USES DECEPTIVE DESIGN AND MISLEADING ADS TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY TO FILE THEIR TAXES, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO FILE FOR FREE. THE SERIES PROMPTED INVESTIGATIONS BY FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES. IN FEBRUARY 2020, THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION RELEASED A SCATHING AUDIT OF TURBOTAX-MAKER INTUIT, H&R BLOCK AND OTHER COMPANIES, WHICH FOUND THAT 14 MILLION TAXPAYERS PAID FOR TAX PREP SOFTWARE IN 2019 THAT THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN FOR FREE. THE AUDIT ALSO CONFIRMED PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING THAT SO FEW TAXPAYERS USE THE FREE FILE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF TAX PREP COMPANIES' USE OF CONFUSING DESIGN AND LAX OVERSIGHT BY THE IRS. IN JUNE, THE BIPARTISAN SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS PUBLISHED A REPORT ON ITS OWN INVESTIGATION, WHICH CRITICIZED THE IRS FOR FAILING TO OVERSEE THE FREE TAX FILING PROGRAM AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE IRS INCREASE FUNDS TO ADVERTISE THE FREE FILING OPTION INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE FOR-PROFIT TAX PREP INDUSTRY. ANOTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, ALSO LAUNCHED IN RESPONSE TO OUR REPORTING, CONCLUDED IN JULY THAT TURBOTAX, H&R BLOCK AND OTHER TAX PREP COMPANIES HAVE LONG ENGAGED IN "UNFAIR AND ABUSIVE PRACTICES." BORDER PATROL AGENTS FIRED OR SUSPENDED FOR TROUBLING FACEBOOK ACTIVITY IN JULY 2019, PROPUBLICA SPOTLIGHTED THE U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETAINING AND SAFEGUARDING IMMIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER WITH MEXICO, INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN. OUR SERIES REVEALED A PATTERN OF INDIFFERENCE AND CALLOUS BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN A SECRET FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PRESENT AND FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENTS WHERE THEY SHARED RACIST, SEXIST AND MISOGYNISTIC POSTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THE BORDER PATROL, LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION WITHIN HOURS OF OUR REPORT. IN JULY, THE AGENCY REVEALED THAT ITS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN THE FIRING OF FOUR EMPLOYEES AND SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY FOR DOZENS OF OTHERS. SENATE INTELLIGENCE CHAIR STEPS DOWN IN MARCH, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT SENATE INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN RICHARD BURR SOLD OFF UP TO $1.7 MILLION OF STOCK AFTER RECEIVING EARLY CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS ON THE SERIOUS HEALTH THREATS OF COVID-19. SIMULTANEOUSLY, BURR WAS REASSURING THE PUBLIC THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE HEALTH CRISIS. IN MAY, FBI AGENTS SERVED A SEARCH WARRANT TO BURR, WHICH INCLUDED THE SEIZURE OF HIS CELLPHONE, AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION OF HIS STOCK TRADES. THE NEXT DAY, BURR RESIGNED AS CHAIRMAN. CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS AVIATION COMPANIES MISUSED BAILOUT FUNDS IN JULY, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THREE AIRLINE INDUSTRY COMPANIES RECEIVED $338 MILLION IN PUBLIC MONEY DESIGNED TO PRESERVE JOBS IN THE HARD-HIT INDUSTRY, BUT THEY LAID OFF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS ANYWAY. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALLOWED THE COMPANIES TO KEEP THE RELIEF MONEY INTENDED FOR STAFF THAT THEY HAD ALREADY LAID OFF. IMMEDIATELY AFTER OUR INVESTIGATION WAS PUBLISHED, THREE HOUSE COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE AVIATION PAYROLL SUPPORT PROGRAM. IN OCTOBER, THE HOUSE SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS RELEASED ITS REPORT, ECHOING PROPUBLICA'S FINDINGS. "TREASURY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAYROLL SUPPORT PROGRAM UNDERMINED THE PROGRAM'S JOB PRESERVATION PURPOSE," THE SUBCOMMITTEE WROTE. "TREASURY PERMITTED AVIATION CONTRACTORS TO LAY OFF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS THROUGH THE WORST MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC AND STILL RECEIVE FULL PAYROLL SUPPORT CALCULATED BASED ON PRE-PANDEMIC WORKFORCE NUMBERS - THE SAME AMOUNT THEY WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IF THEY HAD NOT LAID OFF A SINGLE WORKER." USDA CANCELS CONTRACT WITH UNLICENSED FOOD SUPPLIER IN MAY, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S BILLION-DOLLAR FARMERS TO FAMILIES FOOD BOX PROGRAM, MEANT TO DISTRIBUTE FRESH FOOD TO STRUGGLING FOOD BANKS AND OTHER NONPROFITS DEALING WITH INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE PANDEMIC, WAS RIFE WITH PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM USED AN UNUSUALLY FAST BIDDING PROCESS THAT AWARDED CONTRACTS TO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT LACKED EXPERIENCE OR PROPER LICENSES. ANOTHER RESULT OF THIS PROCESS WAS THAT THE PROGRAM LEFT HARD-HIT AREAS LIKE NEW YORK WITH LESS FOOD THAN AREAS WITH LESS NEED AND BYPASSED THE STATES OF MAINE AND ALASKA ENTIRELY. IN RESPONSE TO OUR REPORTING, MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE SENT LETTERS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION OF HOW IT EVALUATED THE BIDS, INCLUDING IF IT CHECKED COMPANIES' LICENSES AND CONSIDERED EQUITY ACROSS REGIONS. THE USDA COMMITTED TO REVIEWING FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO UNDERSERVED AREAS DURING ITS NEXT ROUND OF CONTRACTS AND CANCELED THE LARGEST UNLICENSED CONTRACT, A $40 MILLION DEAL TO AN AVOCADO GROWER PROFILED IN OUR INITIAL INVESTIGATION. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BACKS OUT OF CONTROVERSIAL VENTILATOR CONTRACT IN MARCH, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED A STORY SHOWING HOW A U.S. SUBSIDIARY OF ROYAL PHILIPS N.V., A DUTCH APPLIANCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, HAD RECEIVED MILLIONS IN FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS YEARS AGO TO DELIVER A LOW-COST VENTILATOR FOR PANDEMICS BUT FAILED TO DO SO. YET, AS THE CORONAVIRUS BEGAN SPREADING AROUND THE GLOBE AND U.S. HOSPITALS WERE DESPERATE FOR MORE, PHILIPS WAS SELLING COMMERCIAL VERSIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT-FUNDED VENTILATOR TO OVERSEAS BUYERS FROM ITS PENNSYLVANIA FACTORY. WE REPORTED IN APRIL THAT, DESPITE HAVING NOT FULFILLED THE INITIAL CONTRACT, THE DUTCH COMPANY STRUCK A MUCH MORE LUCRATIVE DEAL TO SELL THE U.S. GOVERNMENT 43,000 VENTILATORS FOR $646.7 MILLION - FOUR TIMES THE PRICE. IN AUGUST, A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE GOVERNMENT'S PURCHASE OF THE NEW PHILIPS VENTILATORS SAID THAT "GULLIBLE" WHITE HOUSE NEGOTIATORS OVERPAID. CITING EVIDENCE OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ASKED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LAUNCH ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF THE DEAL. BY THE END OF THE MONTH, HHS TERMINATED THE CONTROVERSIAL CONTRACT WITH PHILIPS, AND THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD STOP MAKING THE VENTILATORS. |
| DATA RELEASED ON EMERGENCY LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES | IN MAY, PROPUBLICA, TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL OF THE NATION'S LARGEST NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, FILED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT LAWSUIT TO OBTAIN DATA ABOUT BORROWERS RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION'S PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, CREATED UNDER THE CARES ACT AND WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD DISPENSED MORE THAN $525 BILLION IN LOANS THAT CAN BE FORGIVEN IF THE MONEY IS MOSTLY SPENT TO KEEP EMPLOYEES. IN NOVEMBER, FEDERAL JUDGE JAMES BOASBERG RULED IN THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS' FAVOR, NOTING THAT THE PROGRAM WAS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FRAUD AND WOULD THEREFORE BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY. HE ORDERED THE RELEASE OF THE NAMES, ADDRESSES AND PRECISE LOAN AMOUNTS OF ALL BORROWERS THAT RECEIVED GOVERNMENT PANDEMIC LOANS, AND THE RELEASE OF THE DATA FOLLOWED IN EARLY DECEMBER. CONGRESS INVESTIGATES CHILD CAR SEAT MAKER AND CALLS FOR FURTHER PROBES IN FEBRUARY, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION REVEALING THAT THE CHILD CAR SEAT MAKER EVENFLO PUT PROFITS OVER CHILD SAFETY, MARKETING ITS "BIG KID" BOOSTER SEATS AS "SIDE-IMPACT TESTED" DESPITE INTERNAL VIDEO OF SIDE-IMPACT TESTS SHOWING THAT CHILDREN COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED IN THE SEATS. OUR REPORTING HIGHLIGHTED THE CORPORATE DISREGARD AND REGULATORY FAILURES THAT ALLOWED THE BOOSTER SEATS TO BE SOLD EVEN AFTER SERIOUS INJURIES TO CHILDREN RESULTED. WITHIN A WEEK OF OUR REPORTING, THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND CONSUMER POLICY OPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF EVENFLO, REQUESTING THE COMPANY'S RECORDS RELATED TO THE MARKETING OF THE BIG KID AND OTHER BOOSTERS. IN NOVEMBER, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHASTISED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM INJURY AND DEATH AND ASKED THE AGENCY TO JUSTIFY WHY IT HADN'T ADOPTED THE TOUGHER SAFETY RULES THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAD PUSHED. IN DECEMBER, THE SUBCOMMITTEE RELEASED A REPORT FINDING WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE THAT THE NATION'S LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF CAR SEATS ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN AND MISLED CONSUMERS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF BOOSTER SEATS IN CRASHES. IT ALSO FORMALLY REQUESTED THAT FEDERAL HIGHWAY SAFETY REGULATORS, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, INVESTIGATE "UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE MARKETING AND UNREASONABLE RISKS TO SAFETY" BY THE MAKERS OF BOOSTER SEATS AND URGED STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO LOOK FOR VIOLATIONS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS BY THESE COMPANIES. FEDERAL INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS VA SECRETARY MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS PROPUBLICA REPORTED IN FEBRUARY THAT, ACCORDING TO AN ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ROBERT WILKIE PERSONALLY SOUGHT DAMAGING INFORMATION ABOUT A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE WHO SAID SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN A VA HOSPITAL. IN RESPONSE TO THE STORY, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE VA OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGATION. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ISSUED A REPORT IN DECEMBER THAT CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS OF PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, AND EVERY MAJOR VETERANS GROUP CALLED FOR WILKIE'S RESIGNATION. HOUSE INVESTIGATION OPENED ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE IN FEBRUARY, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT MISSTEPS AT THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION - INCLUDING DESIGNING A FLAWED TEST FOR COVID-19, THEN TAKING WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT A FIX SO STATE AND LOCAL LABS COULD USE IT - MAY HAVE HAMPERED OFFICIALS' ABILITY TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE'S SPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES. CITING PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IN MARCH ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. VICTIM OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT WALKS FREE AFTER 18 YEARS AS PART OF A 2012-13 SERIES ON PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT IN NEW YORK, PROPUBLICA PROFILED THE CASE OF TYRONNE JOHNSON. JOHNSON WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER IN 2002 AND SPENT THE NEXT 18 YEARS IN JAIL, EVEN THOUGH PROSECUTORS FAILED TO DISCLOSE KEY EVIDENCE, INCLUDING WITNESS STATEMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CLEARED HIM OF THE CRIME. PROPUBLICA ALSO REPORTED THAT THE ORIGINAL PROSECUTOR HAD BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS LICENSE FOR OTHER CASES OF MISCONDUCT. IN FEBRUARY 2020, SEVEN YEARS AFTER OUR STORY, JOHNSON WAS RELEASED ON PAROLE. HE CREDITS THE PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION, WHICH HE INCLUDED IN A PACKET OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED TO THE PAROLE BOARD, WITH HELPING SECURE HIS RELEASE BECAUSE IT OFFERED THE "MOST THOROUGH EXAMPLE OF THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED." FIVE MORE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED A 2016 PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHTED HOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN NEVADA AND OTHER STATES USED ROADSIDE DRUG TESTS TO SECURE GUILTY PLEAS, DESPITE WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE THAT THE TESTS ROUTINELY PRODUCE FALSE POSITIVES. THE STORY LED TO FIVE OVERTURNED DRUG CONVICTIONS IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON, AND MORE THAN 250 IN HOUSTON. IN JULY 2020, THE CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN LAS VEGAS DISCLOSED THAT, FOLLOWING PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, LAS VEGAS COURTS OVERTURNED FIVE MORE DRUG CONVICTIONS IN 2017. UPON REANALYZING WHITE POWDER, ORIGINALLY BELIEVED TO BE COCAINE, FOUND WITH THE ACCUSED, LAS VEGAS POLICE OFFICERS FOUND THAT THE POWDERS WERE NOT ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES AT ALL. ILLINOIS BEGINS SHARING DATA ABOUT COVID-19 OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS IN OCTOBER, PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT COVID-19 OUTBREAKS IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS. THE ARTICLE REVEALED THAT MORE CHILDREN WERE TESTING POSITIVE SINCE SCHOOL REOPENED THAN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT ILLINOIS, UNLIKE MANY OTHER STATES, WAS NOT SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS WITHIN SCHOOLS WITH THE PUBLIC. AFTER A REQUEST BY PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND THE TRIBUNE, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS RELEASED DATA SHOWING NEARLY 9,000 CHILDREN TESTING POSITIVE SINCE MID-AUGUST, ROUGHLY 180 NEW INFECTIONS ON AVERAGE EACH DAY, BUT THEY DECLINED TO PUBLISH THE NUMBER OF CASES LINKED TO SCHOOLS OR WHICH SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. TWO WEEKS AFTER OUR REPORTING, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD START SHARING THE NUMBER OF CASES AND OUTBREAKS BY SCHOOL. ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD BEGINS PHASE-OUT OF ISOLATED TIMEOUTS PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS PARTNERED WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE FOR A 2019 INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROUTINE AND ILLEGAL USE OF "ISOLATED TIMEOUT" ROOMS WITHIN ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE FOUND THAT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 5 WERE SENT TO SECLUSION ROOMS, SOMETIMES FOR HOURS ON END, FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS. IN JANUARY, EDUCATORS TESTIFIED BEFORE ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS AT LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS ON REFORM BILLS, URGING AN END TO THE PRACTICE. TWO U.S. SENATORS AND 10 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (ALL BUT ONE FROM ILLINOIS) ASKED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BAN ON THE USE OF STUDENT SECLUSION ROOMS AND PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS THAT RESTRICT BREATHING. THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONDUCTED THE FIRST REVIEW OF ISOLATED TIMEOUTS IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, FINDING THAT SIX OF THE EIGHT DISTRICTS THEY EXAMINED VIOLATED STATE LAW BY PLACING CHILDREN IN SECLUSION FOR IMPROPER REASONS, FOR TOO LONG OR WITHOUT PROPERLY NOTIFYING PARENTS. IN FEBRUARY, THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PERMANENTLY PROHIBIT THE USE OF LOCKED SECLUSION ROOMS AND STOP SCHOOLS FROM USING FACE-DOWN RESTRAINT - BUT IT QUIETLY REVERSED ITS DECISION IN APRIL, AFTER A FEW SMALL SCHOOLS MOUNTED LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGNS IN OPPOSITION. SCHOOLS WILL NOW BE ALLOWED TO USE FACE-DOWN RESTRAINTS FOR ONE MORE SCHOOL YEAR, AIMING TO PHASE OUT ITS USE BY JULY 2021. DEBT COLLECTION LAWSUITS DROPPED AMID CORONAVIRUS PROPUBLICA AND THE TEXAS TRIBUNE INVESTIGATED OPORTUN INC., A SILICON VALLEY-BASED INSTALLMENT LENDER THAT CATERS TO LATINO IMMIGRANTS, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CONTINUING TO SUE BORROWERS EVEN AFTER THEY LOST JOBS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. AS WE WERE TALKING TO BORROWERS AND BEFORE WE PUBLISHED THE STORY, OPORTUN ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS DROPPING THE LAWSUITS IT FILED AGAINST BORROWERS WHO FELL BEHIND ON PAYMENTS, INCLUDING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. IT ALSO ANNOUNCED A CAP ON INTEREST RATES FOR NEW LOANS. |
| HOSPITAL REFORMS AFTER STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS | IN JUNE, PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH REPORTED ON LOVELACE WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, A PROMINENT FACILITY IN ALBUQUERQUE WHERE PREGNANT NATIVE WOMEN WERE SINGLED OUT FOR COVID-19 TESTING AND SEPARATED FROM THEIR NEWBORNS AFTER DELIVERY. CLINICIANS AND HEALTH CARE ETHICISTS DEEMED THESE PRACTICES - IN WHICH MOTHERS WERE SEPARATED FROM BABIES FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE WAITING ON TEST RESULTS, PREVENTING THEM FROM NURSING AND BONDING - TO BE RACIAL PROFILING. THE DAY AFTER OUR REPORTING, GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM ANNOUNCED A STATE INVESTIGATION OF THE HOSPITAL. IN AUGUST, THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES CONCLUDED ITS INVESTIGATION, FINDING THAT THE PRACTICE, WHICH LOVELACE HALTED, HAD VIOLATED PATIENTS' RIGHTS. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS ALSO SUBMITTED A PLAN TO FIX PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED BY FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDING A PROMISE TO CONDUCT INTERNAL AUDITS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND COVID-19 SCREENING GUIDANCE. SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ER PROVIDERS PROTECTED IN MARCH, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE MEDICAL STAFFING COMPANY ALTEON HEALTH WOULD CUT SALARIES, TIME OFF AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS AND NURSES. CITING LOST REVENUE AS HOSPITALS POSTPONE ELECTIVE PROCEDURES AND NON-CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS AVOID EMERGENCY ROOMS, ALTEON AND OTHER STAFFING COMPANIES ANNOUNCED PAY AND BENEFITS CUTS TO ER PROVIDERS DEALING WITH AN ONSLAUGHT OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS AND SHORTAGES OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. AFTER OUR REPORTING, THE COMPANY SAID IT WILL NOT CUT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS' STIPENDS BY 20% AS PLANNED AND WILL CONTINUE OFFERING PAID TIME OFF. AND WHILE ALTEON DEFERRED MATCHING 401(K) CONTRIBUTIONS, IT DID NOT ELIMINATE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, AS IT HAD ANNOUNCED. ILLEGAL EVICTION FILINGS REVERSED PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT LANDLORDS IN AT LEAST FOUR STATES (GEORGIA, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA) HAD VIOLATED THE EVICTION BAN PASSED BY CONGRESS IN MARCH, MOVING TO THROW MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES. WITH NO CLEAR ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR THE CARES ACT, BUILDING OWNERS FACED NO APPARENT CONSEQUENCE FOR SIMPLY NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW. AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY PROPUBLICA AND INFORMED THEIR ACTIONS WERE ILLEGAL, FOUR LANDLORDS SAID THEY WERE WITHDRAWING THEIR EVICTION FILINGS. MEDICAID BENEFITS FOR UNINSURED RETIREE REINSTATED IN MARCH, PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FACING THE CORONAVIRUS THREAT WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND NO INSURANCE. MEDICAID HAD ABRUPTLY CANCELED COVERAGE FOR JUDITH PERSUTTI IN NOVEMBER 2019. THE 64-YEAR-OLD RETIREE, WHO GETS BY ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND FOOD STAMPS, HAD APPEALED THE DECISION UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR MONTHS USING A PROCESS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS CALLED A "GUARDRAIL" TO PROTECT CITIZENS AS STATES TRY TO APPLY MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID. DAYS AFTER OUR STORY, PERSUTTI'S MEDICAID BENEFITS WERE REINSTATED. WI-FI INSTALLED IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MARCH, PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE REPORTED ON LEARNING CHALLENGES IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS'S TRICO SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOLLOWING CORONAVIRUS-RELATED SCHOOL CLOSURES. WHILE STUDENTS WERE EXPECTED TO LEARN REMOTELY, MANY FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT LACK COMPUTERS OR INTERNET CONNECTIONS, AND TRICO DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WI-FI HOT SPOT. WITHOUT ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, TEACHERS DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 6,000 PAGES OF PAPER LESSONS TO THE DISTRICT'S K-12 STUDENTS JUST BEFORE THEY LEFT SCHOOL. WEEKS AFTER THE STORY, A LOCAL INTERNET PROVIDER MOVED TO INSTALL WI-FI SERVICE TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO THE DISTRICT NETWORK, AND AN ANONYMOUS DONOR PLEDGED TO DONATE A DOZEN HOT SPOTS. IN ADDITION, A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CHICAGO'S SUBURBS SAID IT WOULD SHIP ABOUT 250 USED CHROMEBOOKS TO TRICO WHEN THE COMPUTERS ARE REPLACED AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR. GAG GIFT SHOP FINALLY CLOSES AMID CORONAVIRUS FEARS ACTING ON A TIP FROM STAFF MEMBERS FEARFUL OF CONTRACTING COVID-19, PROPUBLICA REPORTED IN MARCH THAT NOVELTY STORE SPENCER'S REMAINED OPEN EVEN AFTER A NATIONAL EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. WHILE OTHER CHAINS SHUT DOWN AMID THE PANDEMIC, SPENCER'S FORCED ITS STAFF TO WORK - SELLING GAG GIFTS AND SEX TOYS - WITH LITTLE OR NO PROTECTION. PROPUBLICA CONTACTED THE COMPANY, AND WITHIN HOURS OF OUR PUBLISHING DEADLINE, IT SHUTTERED ITS MORE THAN 650 STORES, PROMISING TO PAY STAFF AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH. TELEWORK FOR VA ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF INSTITUTED PROPUBLICA AND NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH, A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, REPORTED IN MARCH THAT THE U.S. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION HAD BANNED MOST ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF FROM WORKING AT HOME, DESPITE CALLS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE WHITE HOUSE FOR MORE AMERICANS TO STAY HOME DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. VA EMPLOYEES EXPRESSED ALARM TO OUR REPORTERS THAT THEY MIGHT BE UNNECESSARILY EXPOSED. AFTER THE ARTICLE, THE VA REVERSED COURSE TO ALLOW SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO WORK FROM HOME. PERMIT FOR CONTROVERSIAL $9 BILLION PLASTICS PLANT PUT ON HOLD IN 2019, PROPUBLICA PARTNERED WITH THE TIMES-PICAYUNE AND THE ADVOCATE ON A SERIES ABOUT LOUISIANA'S CANCER ALLEY, A STRETCH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES. OUR ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT TOXIC AIR POLLUTION IN THESE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND POOR COMMUNITIES IS RISING, AND AIR QUALITY RELATIVE TO ITS PEERS IS GETTING WORSE. ONE STORY IN THE SERIES FOCUSED ON TAIWANESE PLASTIC COMPANY FORMOSA'S PROPOSAL TO BUILD A $9.4 BILLION PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX IN THE AREA, ESTIMATING THAT THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE PLANT WOULD FACE DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE THE TOXIC LEVELS OF CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS THAN THEY CURRENTLY DO. IN NOVEMBER, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS SUSPENDING A PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT. COURT OFFICIALS REVIEW CASES HANDLED BY JUDGE WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN OCTOBER, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, MYSTERIOUS MEDICAL LEAVE AND ABRUPT EARLY RETIREMENT OF A YOUNG JUDGE FROM THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT. WHILE DOCUMENTING JUDGE SHAWNDYA SIMPSON'S RAPID MENTAL DECLINE AS A RESULT OF EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER'S, PROPUBLICA'S INVESTIGATION HIGHLIGHTED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ENABLE IMPAIRED JUDGES TO REMAIN ON THE BENCH, AND THE LACK OF PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING RULINGS MADE DURING THAT TIME. WITHIN DAYS OF OUR STORY, NEW YORK COURT OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY PLAN TO REVIEW ALL OF THE CASES HANDLED BY SIMPSON WHILE SHE WAS ON MEDICAL LEAVE. GAO REPORT ON TRUMP CRONIES ECHOS OUR REPORTING IN 2018, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE "MAR-A-LAGO CROWD" - A GROUP OF BUSINESSMEN WHO MET AT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S PRIVATE CLUB IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, INCLUDING MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT CHAIRMAN IKE PERLMUTTER, DOCTOR BRUCE MOSKOWITZ AND LAWYER MARC SHERMAN - WAS EXERTING SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, ADVISING THE PRESIDENT ON VETERANS ISSUES. THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON VA POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND PERSONNEL, EVEN THOUGH NONE OF THEM HAD MILITARY OR GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE. PROMPTED BY PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REQUESTED A REVIEW BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE. THE GAO REPORT, RELEASED IN JUNE 2020, CONFIRMED PROPUBLICA'S FINDINGS THAT TRUMP EMPOWERED HIS FRIENDS TO SECRETLY STEER THE SECOND-LARGEST GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERSIGHT. FIRST RESEARCH STUDY ON FBI PHOTO ANALYSIS METHOD RELEASED AND FINDS SERIOUS FLAWS IN 2019, PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATED A TECHNIQUE THE FBI LABORATORY HAS USED FOR DECADES TO IDENTIFY CRIMINALS, PURPORTING TO MATCH THEIR BLUEJEANS WITH THOSE PHOTOGRAPHED IN SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS. AFTER OUR STORY, WHICH RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PRACTICE, RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, TESTED THE FBI'S METHOD AND FOUND SEVERAL SERIOUS FLAWS. PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY IN THE JOURNAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, IT IS THE FIRST KNOWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON THE TECHNIQUE'S RELIABILITY, EVEN THOUGH COURTS HAVE ALLOWED IT AS TRIAL EVIDENCE FOR YEARS. |
| INTERNAL MARINE CORPS INVESTIGATION OF FATAL CRASH REINFORCES OUR REPORTING | IN 2019, PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON A 2018 MARINES CORPS CRASH OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN THAT KILLED SIX MEN. DESPITE AN ORIGINAL MARINE CORPS INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH THAT LARGELY BLAMED THE SQUADRON, PAINTING THE MEN AS RECKLESS AVIATORS WHO FLOUTED SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND ABUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, PROPUBLICA REVEALED DEEP SYSTEMIC FAILINGS THAT WERE WELL KNOWN TO SUPERIORS UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THE SQUADRON HAD BEEN DEPRIVED OF ADEQUATE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT, AND ITS REPEATED PLEAS FOR HELP FROM SUPERIORS IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH WENT UNADDRESSED. A NEW MARINE CORPS REVIEW OF THE CRASH, WHICH CONCLUDED IN JULY 2020, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ITS ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION WAS INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE, LED BY A COMMANDER WHO WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH HOW HIS FINDINGS WOULD BE PERCEIVED BY HIS BOSSES THAN GETTING TO THE TRUTH. MANY OF THE REPORT'S FINDINGS REINFORCE PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING. EEOC PROBE CONFIRMS PROPUBLICA FINDINGS ON AGE DISCRIMINATION AT IBM IN 2018, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO IBM'S PRACTICES OF FORCING OLDER WORKERS OUT OF THEIR JOBS THROUGH RETIREMENT AND LAYOFFS, REPLACING THEM WITH YOUNGER EMPLOYEES AND FLOUTING LAWS INTENDED TO PROTECT AGAINST AGE BIAS. MONTHS AFTER OUR STORIES PUBLISHED, THE U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION CONSOLIDATED AGE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE COMPANY FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, LAUNCHING A NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION OF AGE BIAS AT IBM. THE EEOC RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION IN A LETTER IN 2020 TO A GROUP OF EX-EMPLOYEES, ECHOING PROPUBLICA'S FINDINGS IN THEIR CONCLUSION THAT IBM ENGAGED IN SYSTEMATIC AGE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN 2013 AND 2018, WHEN IT SHED THOUSANDS OF OLDER WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. EMPLOYMENT LAW EXPERTS SAID THE AGENCY'S FINDING COULD RESULT IN IBM FACING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS OR A FEDERAL LAWSUIT. LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO IMPROVE ALASKA PUBLIC SAFETY THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, A MEMBER OF THE PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, PARTNERED WITH US FOR A PROJECT THAT UNCOVERED A SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS IN RURAL ALASKA AND HOW IT IS COMPOUNDED BY A PROFOUND LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES. ALMOST ALL OF THESE REMOTE COMMUNITIES ARE PRIMARILY ALASKA NATIVE AND OFTEN HAVE NO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN THE WAKE OF OUR INVESTIGATION, IN FEBRUARY A TASK FORCE OF ALASKA LEGISLATORS FILED BILLS THAT WOULD OVERHAUL KEY ELEMENTS OF THE STATE'S VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER PROGRAM, WHICH USES STATE MONEY TO TRAIN AND PAY OFFICERS WORKING IN REMOTE VILLAGES. AMONG OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD DEFINE VPSO'S LAW ENFORCEMENT POWER AND DUTIES TO AVOID ANY AMBIGUITY AND REMOVE A CAP ON OVERHEAD COSTS THAT VPSO EMPLOYERS CAN BILL THE STATE. BILL PROPOSED TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY AMPUTATIONS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MAY, A PROPUBLICA STORY DETAILED HOW BLACK AMERICANS WITH DIABETES LOSE LIMBS AT A RATE TRIPLE THAT OF OTHERS, A SIGN THAT QUALITY PREVENTIVE CARE ISN'T REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST. IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED PUBLICATION, SEVERAL CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE OFFICES REACHED OUT TO THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION TO ASK FOR GUIDANCE ON DRAFTING POLICY TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN DIABETIC AMPUTATIONS. IN AUGUST, THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION UNVEILED A NEW INITIATIVE TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY AMPUTATIONS AS PART OF AN UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN ON RACE AND DIABETES CARE. IN OCTOBER, U.S. REP. DONALD M. PAYNE JR. INTRODUCED A BILL TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY AMPUTATIONS AND ADDRESS RACIAL DISPARITIES. CALLED THE AMPUTATION REDUCTION AND COMPASSION ACT OF 2020, THE BILL PROPOSES MAJOR REFORMS THAT SEEK TO ADDRESS POLICY GAPS EXPLORED IN THE PROPUBLICA ARTICLE, IN ADDITION TO BETTER ALIGNING MEDICARE PAYMENTS WITH AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY GUIDELINES ON PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE. LEGISLATION PASSED TO STOP UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCIES FROM DEMANDING MONEY BACK WHEN THEY MAKE MISTAKES AN OCTOBER PROPUBLICA ARTICLE EXPOSED THE DEBTS AND ANGUISH FACED BY WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN OVERPAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY STATE UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCIES, SOMETIMES AS A RESULT OF THE STATE'S MISTAKES. EVEN WHEN THE AGENCIES MADE THE ORIGINAL ERROR, THEY HAVE GARNISHED PAYCHECKS OR TAXED REFUNDS TO OBTAIN REPAYMENT, WHILE OTHERS CHARGED INTEREST ON THE DEBT. IN DECEMBER, PROMPTED BY PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE INTRODUCED BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SHIELD UNEMPLOYED WORKERS FROM HAVING TO RETURN FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS WHEN AGENCIES HAVE MISTAKENLY PAID THEM THESE FUNDS. THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL THAT CONGRESS PASSED - AND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED INTO LAW - SOON AFTER GRANTED HARDSHIP WAIVERS FOR PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE OVERPAYMENTS BY STATE UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCIES. BILL INTRODUCED BANNING USE OF TEAR GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS ON PROTESTERS IN JUNE, PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TEAR GAS, WHICH CAN CAUSE LONG-TERM LUNG DAMAGE AND INCREASES THE RISK OF CONTRACTING VIRUSES LIKE COVID-19; CONTAMINATES FOOD, FURNITURE, SKIN AND SURFACES; AND SEEPS INTO HOMES. CITING OUR INVESTIGATION, SEN. EDWARD MARKEY AND SEN. BERNIE SANDERS INTRODUCED THE NO TEAR GAS OR PROJECTILES ACT, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' USE OF TEAR GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS BY BANNING FEDERAL OFFICERS' USE OF RIOT CONTROL AGENTS AND KINETIC IMPACT PROJECTILES AND BY LIMITING FEDERAL FUNDING TO STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES THAT DO NOT BAN THEIR USE. HAWAII OFFICIALS PLEDGE NEW POLICIES TO PROTECT DISAPPEARING BEACHES THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER AND PROPUBLICA REPORTED IN AUGUST THAT BEACHFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS ACROSS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HAVE CIRCUMVENTED ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS MEANT TO PRESERVE DISAPPEARING SHORELINES, WINNING PERMITS TO PROTECT MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR HOMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE'S BEACHES. IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS REVISING ITS RULES GOVERNING SHORELINE STRUCTURES, AND HAWAII LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WILL INTRODUCE A BILL REQUIRING SELLERS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN STATEMENT DISCLOSING THE RISKS OF SEA LEVEL RISE. OFFICIALS CALL FOR REFORMS TO NYPD OFFICER DISCIPLINE A SERIES OF PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONERS HAVE USED THEIR AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUNISHMENTS FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT, AS WELL AS RULINGS BY DEPARTMENT HEARING OFFICERS AND EVEN GUILTY PLEAS AGREED TO BY POLICE OFFICERS. IN DECEMBER, THE CHAIR OF THE CCRB CALLED FOR A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN HOW NYPD OFFICERS ARE DISCIPLINED FOR ABUSE OF CIVILIANS, SAYING THE POLICE COMMISSIONER SHOULD NO LONGER BE THE FINAL ARBITER OF DISCIPLINE IN CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE CCRB. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SHIFT FINAL DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE COMMISSIONER. FEMA WARNS AGAINST UNUSABLE COVID-19 TESTING SUPPLIES AS HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATES THE CONTRACTOR IN JUNE, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PAID A FLEDGLING TEXAS COMPANY $7.3 MILLION FOR TEST TUBES NEEDED IN TRACKING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS NATIONWIDE. BUT, INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD VIALS, FILLAKIT LLC SUPPLIED PLASTIC TUBES MADE FOR BOTTLING SODA, WHICH STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY ARE UNUSABLE AND MAY BE CONTAMINATED. A LATER STORY IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RAISED SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS. A WEEK AFTER THE STORIES PUBLISHED, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WARNED STATES NOT TO USE COVID-19 TESTING SUPPLIES IT BOUGHT UNDER ITS CONTRACT WITH FILLAKIT, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTRACTOR. GAO INVESTIGATES DUBIOUS CONTRACT FOR UNAUTHORIZED HOSPITAL MASKS IN MAY, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT FORMER WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF ZACH FUENTES' 11-DAY-OLD COMPANY RECEIVED A $3 MILLION FEDERAL CONTRACT TO PROVIDE KN95 RESPIRATOR MASKS TO NAVAJO NATION HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMIC. FUENTES SECURED THE DEAL WITH THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE WITH LIMITED COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND NO PRIOR FEDERAL CONTRACTING EXPERIENCE - AND HIS COMPANY'S CHINESE-MADE MASKS DID NOT MEET FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SAFETY STANDARDS FOR USE IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS. IN JUNE, IHS ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE POSSIBLY INEFFECTIVE MASKS. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ALSO DEMANDED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CONTRACT, AND THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO REVIEW THE DEAL. |
| LAWMAKERS DEMAND THAT NYPD HALT UNDERCOVER SEX TRADE STINGS | IN DECEMBER, PROPUBLICA REVEALED THAT UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY THAT AIM TO ARREST SEX WORKERS OR THEIR CLIENTS HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS OF FALSE ARREST AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, AND THAT ALMOST EVERYONE ARRESTED WAS NONWHITE. DAYS AFTER WE PUBLISHED THE STORY, A GROUP OF NEW YORK LAWMAKERS CALLED ON THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT TO STOP THE BUSTS IN A LETTER TO LEADERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE. THE LETTER ALSO ASKED FOR AN OVERSIGHT HEARING TO EXAMINE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE NYPD VICE UNIT, THE PRIMARY DIVISION THAT POLICES THE SEX TRADE. HUMAN RIGHTS LAWSUIT CHALLENGES SECRETIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY IN APRIL, PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON A SECRETIVE POLICY ISSUED BY THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, WHICH BARRED UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. OUR REPORTING UNCOVERED AN INTERNAL MEMO THAT, CITING AN OBSCURE FEDERAL LAW AUTHORIZING THE GOVERNMENT TO BAN THE ENTRY OF PEOPLE WHO COULD "INTRODUCE" AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE (IN THIS CASE, THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS), INSTRUCTED BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO SUMMARILY EXPEL MIGRANTS. THE GUIDANCE ORDERED THIS WITHOUT CONSIDERING WHETHER MIGRANTS MIGHT BE PERSECUTED IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES - A SCREENING THAT IS REQUIRED OF AGENTS UNDER U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW. IN JUNE, A COALITION OF ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS SUED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM BEING SENT BACK TO HONDURAS AFTER HE CROSSED INTO THE U.S. TO JOIN HIS FATHER. THE LAWSUIT, WHICH CITES PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING, WAS THE FIRST CHALLENGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY. NEW YORK MAYOR SEEKS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ON TRUMP'S TAX INCONSISTENCIES IN 2019, PROPUBLICA AND WNYC REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S COMPANY MADE ITS NEW YORK PROPERTIES APPEAR MORE PROFITABLE TO LENDERS AND LESS PROFITABLE TO TAX OFFICIALS. IN JANUARY, NEW YORK CITY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION BASED ON OUR REPORTING AND, ACCORDING TO MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, THE CITY SENT ITS FINDINGS TO THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY "BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A CRIMINAL ACT HAVING BEEN COMMITTED." STATE LEGISLATORS DEMAND INVESTIGATION INTO NEW ORLEANS HOSPICE'S PRACTICES FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS IN SEPTEMBER, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE OCHSNER WEST BANK HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS WAS SENDING PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS INTO HOSPICE FACILITIES OR BACK HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES TO DIE, IN SOME CASES PRESSURING FAMILIES INTO DISCONTINUING TREATMENT AS THEY PUSHED BACK OR STOPPING TREATMENT AGAINST FAMILY INSTRUCTIONS. WITHIN WEEKS OF OUR REPORTING, THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, WHICH INCLUDES 37 LEGISLATORS, MET WITH GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS TO DISCUSS PROPUBLICA'S FINDINGS AND SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR DEMANDING A STATE INVESTIGATION. NEW YORK NURSING HOME RESIDENTS SUE OVER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATES IN APRIL, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE QUEENS ADULT CARE CENTER, WHICH HOUSES ELDERLY, SICK OR MENTALLY ILL NEW YORKERS, WAS COVERING UP CASES OF COVID-19 WITHIN ITS FACILITY AND NOT IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES TO STOP THE SPREAD. PATIENTS WITH THE VIRUS CONTINUED SHARING ROOMS WITH ELDERLY AND AT-RISK RESIDENTS AND WERE ALLOWED TO CIRCULATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FEARING FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, STAFF DIDN'T RETURN TO WORK OR MINIMIZED CONTACT TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT RESIDENTS WENT WITHOUT FOOD AND MEDICATIONS. IN MAY, PROPUBLICA LEARNED THAT THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL IS INVESTIGATING THE CENTER AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY TWO LOCAL LAWMAKERS WHO READ OUR STORY, AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS FEATURED IN OUR REPORTING ARE NOW SUING THE FACILITY UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CIVIL RIGHTS ROLLBACKS INTERROGATED IN JULY, PROPUBLICA AND THE CAPITOL FORUM REPORTED THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PULLED BACK ON CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AS A PART OF ITS OVERALL RELAXATION OF BANK OVERSIGHT, QUIETLY ABANDONING SIX DISCRIMINATION PROBES INTO BANK OF AMERICA AND OTHER LENDERS. STAFF AT THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY, THE REGULATORY AGENCY THAT CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS INTO DISCRIMINATION, FOUND EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY DENIED LOANS OR WERE CHARGED MORE AT BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FINES OR PENALTIES WERE IGNORED AND THE CASES CLOSED. WITHIN A WEEK OF OUR INVESTIGATION, 18 SENATE DEMOCRATS ASKED THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY TO EXPLAIN HOW THE AGENCY HANDLED INVESTIGATIONS INTO DISCRIMINATION AND "REDLINING" IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY. LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST TRUMP ORGANIZATION FOR OVERCHARGING INAUGURAL COMMITTEE OUR "TRUMP, INC." COLLABORATION WITH WNYC REPORTED IN 2018 AND 2019 THAT THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION OVERCHARGED THE NONPROFIT PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION COMMITTEE FOR ROOMS, MEALS AND EVENT SPACE AT THE COMPANY'S WASHINGTON HOTEL AND THAT IVANKA TRUMP WAS INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING THE PRICE THE HOTEL CHARGED THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE. IN JANUARY, THE WASHINGTON, D.C., ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED A CIVIL LAWSUIT CHARGING THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE AND THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION WITH USING AROUND $1 MILLION OF CHARITABLE FUNDS TO IMPROPERLY ENRICH THE TRUMP FAMILY. OPPORTUNITY ZONE ABUSES INVESTIGATED IN 2019, PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF POLITICALLY CONNECTED BILLIONAIRES BENEFITING FROM THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX BREAK, A 2017 ANTI-POVERTY MEASURE MEANT TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS BY CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS WHO CITED PROPUBLICA'S STORIES, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY THAT THE AGENCY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS. CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO SEX OFFENDERS ON DATING APPS OPENED IN 2019, PROPUBLICA REPORTED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBIA JOURNALISM INVESTIGATIONS, ON THE USE OF ONLINE DATING APPS BY SEX OFFENDERS TO ATTACK OTHER USERS AND THE BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY'S RESISTANCE TO LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF ITS PRODUCTS. IN JANUARY, THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND CONSUMER POLICY RESPONDED TO OUR REPORTING WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY OF ONLINE DATING APPS, INCLUDING THE USE OF DATING SITES AMONG MINORS, THE SALE OR DISSEMINATION OF USERS' PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THE PRESENCE OF REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS ON FREE DATING SITES. LAWMAKERS SUBMITTED LETTERS TO THE TOP EXECUTIVES AT SITES LIKE MATCH GROUP, BUMBLE, GRINDR AND THE MEET GROUP, REQUESTING INFORMATION ON HOW (AND IF) THEY SCREEN FOR SEX OFFENDERS OR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES. OREGON GOV. CALLS FOR AUDIT OF AGENCY THAT LOBBIED FOR TIMBER INDUSTRY PROPUBLICA AND LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING JOINED WITH THE OREGONIAN TO INVESTIGATE THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, REPORTING THROUGH THE SUMMER ON HOW THE STATE'S PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR WEALTHY CORPORATIONS HAS HAD DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON BOTH THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. AMONG OTHER FINDINGS, THE REPORTING TEAM REVEALED THAT THE TAX-FUNDED AGENCY OREGON FOREST RESOURCES INSTITUTE WORKED TO DISCREDIT ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND ACTED AS A LOBBYING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ARM FOR THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. IN SEPTEMBER, OREGON GOV. KATE BROWN CALLED ON SECRETARY OF STATE BEV CLARNO TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH STATE AUDIT OF THE AGENCY. TOUGHER CONSEQUENCES PROPOSED FOR CALIFORNIA'S COUNTY JAILS IN 2019, PROPUBLICA AND THE SACRAMENTO BEE, A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, PUBLISHED A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS THAT EXPOSED HOW CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF STATE PRISONS HAVE LED TO OVERCROWDED AND DANGEROUS, INCREASINGLY DEADLY, CONDITIONS IN ITS COUNTY JAILS. IN JANUARY, CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM SUBMITTED A 2020 BUDGET THAT WOULD GIVE MORE AUTHORITY TO THE BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, WHICH OVERSEES JAILS, EMPOWERING IT TO TAKE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND TRANSPARENT STEPS WHEN ITS INSPECTORS FIND CONDITIONS THAT VIOLATE STATE STANDARDS. IN FEBRUARY, THE BSCC PROPOSED TOUGHER SCRUTINY AND CONSEQUENCES FOR DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN CALIFORNIA'S COUNTY JAILS. THE BOARD ALSO FORMALIZED AN ENHANCED INSPECTION PROCESS FOR EVALUATING JAILS, AND CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBER SYDNEY KAMLAGER HAS DEMANDED AUDITS OF SEVERAL SHERIFFS' OFFICES WITH REGARD TO HOW THEY USED STATE FUNDING RECEIVED SINCE 2011 TO IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS TO COUNTY JAILS. |
| JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES DEADLY MISSISSIPPI PRISONS | IN 2019, PROPUBLICA AND THE MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, INVESTIGATED THE MISSISSIPPI PRISON SYSTEM, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY ACCUSATIONS OF BRUTALITY, CORRUPTION AND ABUSE. IN FEBRUARY, AFTER A LETTER FROM PRISON REFORM OGANIZATIONS THAT CITED OUR SERIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO FOUR OF MISSISSIPPI'S PRISONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER PRISONERS WERE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM PHYSICAL HARM BY OTHER PRISONERS, IF PROPER SUICIDE PREVENTION MEASURES WERE TAKEN AND IF ADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WAS PROVIDED. CLEVELAND HOSPITAL'S PRIVATE POLICE COME UNDER SCRUTINY IN SEPTEMBER, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT THE ARMED PRIVATE POLICE IN CLEVELAND'S LARGELY WHITE HOSPITAL ZONE, INCLUDING AT THE FAMED CLEVELAND CLINIC, PREDOMINANTLY CITE AND CHARGE BLACK PEOPLE FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND MISDEMEANORS SUCH AS TRESPASSING, JAYWALKING AND POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA. IN RESPONSE TO OUR INVESTIGATION, WHICH REVEALED THAT NEARLY 90% OF PEOPLE CHARGED BY UNIVERSITY CIRCLE POLICE SINCE 2015 WERE BLACK, TWO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE AND THE NAACP HAVE CALLED FOR TOUGHER SUPERVISION OF PRIVATE POLICE FORCES IN CLEVELAND'S MEDICAL AREA, AND ONE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS VOWING REFORM. NONPROFIT RECEIVES FLOOD OF DONATIONS FOLLOWING HEIRS' PROPERTY STORY IN A 2019 COLLABORATION WITH THE NEW YORKER, PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATED HEIRS' PROPERTY, A LEGAL MEANS FOR LAND TO BE PASSED DOWN TO FAMILY WITHOUT A WILL, WHICH HAS MADE PROPERTY OWNERS VULNERABLE TO LOSING THEIR LAND AND PROHIBITS THEM FROM RECEIVING THE FULL BENEFITS OF LAND OWNERSHIP. THIS HAD LED TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LAND LOSS, PRIMARILY BY BLACK LANDOWNERS IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY PRESERVATION, WHICH HELPS PROTECT HEIRS' PROPERTY BY ASSISTING FAMILIES ON CLEARING TITLES AND WRITING WILLS, HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN $200,000 IN DONATIONS IN RESPONSE TO PROPUBLICA'S STORY. IN OCTOBER, PROPERTY LAW SCHOLAR THOMAS MITCHELL, FEATURED IN THE STORY, WON A MACARTHUR "GENIUS" AWARD AND PLANS TO USE THE GRANT TO CREATE A LAW CENTER TO HELP PROTECT THE REAL ESTATE AND WEALTH OF DISADVANTAGED PROPERTY OWNERS. ELECTIONLAND TRACKED VOTER PROBLEMS, ALERTED VOTERS THROUGHOUT 2020, PROPUBLICA'S ELECTIONLAND USED DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK ISSUES THAT PREVENT VOTERS FROM CASTING THEIR BALLOTS. THE HOPE WAS TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE 2020 ELECTION. FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES SPURRED BY REPORTING BY PROPUBLICA AND PARTNERS: - KQED AND PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON WECHAT MISINFORMATION IN THE CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. A LOCAL NONPROFIT USED OUR REPORTING TO DEVELOP AN ANTI-MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN, TRANSLATING MATERIALS TO DISSEMINATE AMONG SAN FRANCISCO'S LARGE CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY BEFORE ELECTION DAY. - AFTER VOTERS IN A NEW JERSEY TOWN RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM THE LOCAL GOP STATING THAT THERE WAS NO IN-PERSON VOTING, NORTHJERSEY.COM AND NJ SPOTLIGHT SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT TO EXPLAIN ACTUAL VOTER OPTIONS. - GOV2GO, A PUBLIC SERVICE APP IN FLORIDA, SENT MIAMI USERS THE WRONG DATE FOR ELECTION DAY, SUGGESTING IT WAS THREE DAYS LATER THAN THE ACTUAL ELECTION. THE MIAMI HERALD ALERTED VOTERS TO THE ERROR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE REAL ELECTION DAY. - AN IOWA MAN WITH A LARGE, MILITARY-STYLE VEHICLE PROMOTING TRUMP WAS ASKED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MOVE HIS VEHICLE TO THE LEGAL LIMIT OF AT LEAST 300 FEET FROM A POLLING PLACE, FOLLOWING REPORTING FROM IOWA PUBLIC RADIO. - THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND REGISTRAR OF VOTERS ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AN ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT VOTING CENTER AFTER PARTNER VOICE OF OC REPORTED IT. - FOLLOWING CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER COVID-19-POSITIVE OMAHA VOTERS COULD USE CURBSIDE VOTING, POLL WORKERS WERE CONTACTED TO ALERT VOTERS THEY COULD IN FACT USE THAT VOTING METHOD, THANKS TO PARTNER 3 NEWS NOW'S REPORTING. - THE BEACON'S STORY ON INSECURE LOCAL ELECTION WEBSITES IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI, WHICH USED ELECTIONLAND RESOURCES, LED SEVERAL COUNTIES TO UPDATE THEIR SECURITY MEASURES. RECOGNITION FOR OUR WORK PROPUBLICA'S WORK WAS HONORED IN 2020 AS FOLLOWS: "LAWLESS," A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PROJECT WITH THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS THAT UNCOVERED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN RURAL ALASKA AND HOW IT IS COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, WON THE PULITZER PRIZE GOLD MEDAL FOR PUBLIC SERVCE. THE SERIES ALSO WON THE PAUL TOBENKIN MEMORIAL AWARD, THE AL NAKKULA PRIZE FOR POLICE REPORTING, THE SCRIPPS HOWARD IMPACT AWARD, THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM, THE ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARDS' AL NEUHARTH AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, A NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S FRANK BLETHEN AWARD FOR LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING, THE JOHN JAY/HARRY FRANK GUGGENHEIM AWARD IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING AWARD FOR SERIES, THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM, THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' NORTHWEST EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE, THE BEST OF THE WEST AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GOLDSMITH PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE MICHAEL KELLY AWARD. OUR SERIES ON DEADLY ACCIDENTS IN THE NAVY AND MARINES CAUSED BY INADEQUATE TRAINING AND FAULTY EQUIPMENT WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR NATIONAL REPORTING, A NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S DEBORAH HOWELL AWARD FOR WRITING EXCELLENCE, THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION'S INAUGURAL KATHARINE GRAHAM AWARD FOR COURAGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THE GERALD R. FORD AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED REPORTING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE MILITARY REPORTERS AND EDITORS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR PRINT/ONLINE DOMESTIC, AND MALOFIEJ SILVER MEDALS IN THE FEATURES AND MOTION GRAPHICS CATEGORIES. THE SERIES WAS ALSO A FINALIST FOR THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST, AND THE ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD FOR DIGITAL VIDEO STORYTELLING. OUR STORY ON AFRICAN AMERICAN LAND LOSS IN THE SOUTH, CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORKER, WON THE GEORGE POLK AWARD IN JOURNALISM FOR MAGAZINE REPORTING, THE JOHN BARTLOW MARTIN AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST MAGAZINE JOURNALISM, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS' SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR MAGAZINE, WAS A RUNNER UP FOR THE MOLLY NATIONAL JOURNALISM PRIZE, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S DORI J. MAYNARD AWARD FOR JUSTICE IN JOURNALISM. "THE QUIET ROOMS," A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS SERIES WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ABOUT THE UNLAWFUL USE OF ISOLATED TIMEOUTS IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS, WON THE FRED M. HECHINGER GRAND PRIZE FOR DISTINGUISHED EDUCATION REPORTING, THE TOP PRIZE IN THE NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EDUCATION REPORTING, A NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S FRANK BLETHEN AWARD FOR LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING, THE ANTHONY SHADID AWARD FOR JOURNALISM ETHICS, THE ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARDS' UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE DATA JOURNALISM, THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, THE KATHERINE SCHNEIDER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING ON DISABILITY, THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AS WELL AS THE DRIEHAUS AWARDS' INAUGURAL READERS' CHOICE AWARD,THE ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION KNIGHT CHAIR AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE REPORTING, THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA EDITORS AWARDS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, EDITORIAL SWEEPSTAKES AND DIGITAL STORYTELLING AND FOUR CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB PETER LISAGOR AWARDS: THE WATCHDOG AWARD, BEST EDUCATION REPORTING, BEST DATA JOURNALISM AND BEST MULTIMEDIA COLLABORATION. IT RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE DART AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COVERAGE OF TRAUMA, WON SECOND PLACE FOR THE NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN NEWSPAPERS,WAS A FINALIST FOR THE MOLLY NATIONAL JOURNALISM PRIZE, THE SELDEN RING AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR PRINT/ONLINE, AND WAS ON THE SHORTLIST FOR THE SIGMA AWARD FOR DATA-DRIVEN REPORTING. OUR REPORTING ON THE PERVASIVE USE OF JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS TO SECURE CONVICTIONS, CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, WON THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR REPORTING, THE MOLLY NATIONAL JOURNALISM PRIZE, THE TAYLOR FAMILY AWARD FOR FAIRNESS IN JOURNALISM, THE HILLMAN PRIZE FOR MAGAZINE JOURNALISM AND AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR PRINT/ONLINE, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR A NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S DEBORAH HOWELL AWARD FOR WRITING EXCELLENCE. |
| "PROFITING FROM THE POOR," A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PROJECT | WITH MLK50: JUSTICE THROUGH JOURNALISM THAT EXPOSED PREDATORY DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES BY THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, WON THE GERALD LOEB AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL JOURNALISM FOR LOCAL REPORTING, THE SELDEN RING AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR PRINT/ONLINE, THE BARLETT & STEELE BRONZE AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE BUSINESS JOURNALISM, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS' SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR ONLINE PROJECT AND THE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR BUSINESS JOURNALISM, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM. "THE TURBOTAX TRAP," OUR SERIES THAT REVEALED THAT TURBOTAX SOLD TAXPAYERS A SERVICE THEY COULD HAVE RECEIVED FOR FREE, WON THE GERALD LOEB AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL JOURNALISM FOR PERSONAL FINANCE AND CONSUMER REPORTING AND THE EDWARD R. MURROW NATIONAL AWARD FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE SELDEN RIGHT AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR BUSINESS/FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR GOVERNMENT. "A 911 EMERGENCY," A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PROJECT BY THE PUBLIC'S RADIO ON HOW INADEQUATE TRAINING AND OVERSIGHT HARMS EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE IN RHODE ISLAND, WON THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR RADIO/AUDIO AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE SCRIPPS HOWARD IMPACT AWARD, AS WELL AS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR RADIO/AUDIO. "INSIDE THE BORDER PATROL" WON THE RFK JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE NEW MEDIA CATEGORY. "THE BAD BET," AN INVESTIGATION BY PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND WBEZ ABOUT VIDEO GAMBLING ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WON THE EDWARD R. MURROW NATIONAL AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE EDWARD R. MURROW REGIONAL AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GERALD LOEB AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL JOURNALISM FOR LOCAL REPORTING AND THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST GRAPHICS, AND WON THIRD PLACE IN THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS AWARDS FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. "POLLUTER'S PARADISE," A COLLABORATION WITH THE TIMES-PICAYUNE AND THE ADVOCATE, WON THE SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS' NINA MASON PULLIAM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING, A SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS' KEVIN CARMODY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE WRITERS' SCIENCE IN SOCIETY AWARD FOR SERIES, THE MALOFIEJ AWARDS' CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT BEST GRAPHIC AWARD, A MALOFIEJ SILVER MEDAL IN THE FEATURES CATEGORY AND A SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN BRONZE MEDAL FOR MAPS, AND WAS SELECTED FOR THE SIGMA AWARDS SHORTLIST FOR VISUALIZATION. REPORTER CAROLINE CHEN WON THE LIVINGSTON AWARD FOR YOUNG JOURNALISTS IN THE LOCAL REPORTING CATEGORY FOR HER STORY ON A NEWARK HOSPITAL THAT KEPT A VEGETATIVE PATIENT ON LIFE SUPPORT TO BOOST ITS SURVIVAL RATE. THE STORY ALSO WON THE NEW YORK PRESS CLUB JOURNALISM AWARDS FOR FEATURE REPORTING IN SCIENCE, MEDICINE, TECHNOLOGY, AND RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR HEALTH/SCIENCE. "UNCHECKED POWER" BY RECKON BY AL.COM, A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, WON THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM AND THIRD PLACE FOR THE NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD FOR HEALTH, MEDICAL AND SCIENCE WRITING. THREE PROPUBLICA NEWSLETTERS ("FALSE WITNESS," "DISASTER IN THE PACIFIC AND NOT SHUTTING UP") WON THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN NEWSLETTER JOURNALISM. OUR REPORTING ON PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S TAX INCONSISTENCIES WON THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR BANKING/FINANCE. "THE EXTORTION ECONOMY," OUR STORY ON HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE FUELING A RISE IN RANSOMWARE ATTACKS, WON THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY. OUR COLLABORATION WITH BUZZFEED NEWS ON THE GRUELING, SOMETIMES DEADLY CONDITIONS ENDURED BY DRIVERS WHO WORK IN AMAZON'S DELIVERY NETWORK WON THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR RETAIL. "THE EXTORTION ECONOMY," ABOUT HOW COMPANIES PURPORT TO HELP VICTIMS OF RANSOMWARE, WON THE TRACE PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. "TRUMP, INC.," A COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROPUBLICA AND WNYC, WON THE NEW YORK PRESS CLUB JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE PODCAST CATEGORY, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR PODCASTING. PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS' REPORTING WITH THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ON THE FAILURES OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES TO SERVE SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WON THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB PETER LISAGOR AWARDS FOR BEST NON-DEADLINE REPORTING AND BEST ILLUSTRATION, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS AWARDS FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. OUR REPORTING ON SUNDOWN TOWNS WON THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE STORY OR SERIES. OUR REPORTING WITH THE SACRAMENTO BEE ON HOW CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO REFORM THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM LEFT ITS COUNTY JAILS MORE DEADLY, A PROJECT OF THE PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, WON THE CALIFORNIA JOURNALISM AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. AN INVESTIGATION BY NPR ILLINOIS, A LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN'S HANDLING OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS AGAINST FACULTY WON THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORT. OUR REPORTING WITH THE CONNECTICUT MIRROR, A PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, ON HOW STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS BLOCKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AFFLUENT CONNECTICUT TOWNS, WON THE NEW ENGLAND NEWSPAPER & PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE REPORTING. OUR VISUALIZATION OF THE SPREAD OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA, CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION. PROPUBLICA WAS A FINALIST FOR AN ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE JOURNALISM. OUR REPORTING WITH AMERICAN BANKER ON HOW TRUMP'S POLITICAL APPOINTEES INTERVENED TO REDUCE SANCTIONS AGAINST TWO LARGE BANKING ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN TRADING RISKY SECURITIES RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR BANKING/FINANCE. OUR REPORTING ON WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS FOR PROPUBLICA'S "DOCUMENTING HATE" SERIES WAS RECOGNIZED AS A FINALIST FOR THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S BATTEN MEDAL FOR COURAGE IN JOURNALISM. OUR REPORTING ON INVASIVE TSA SEARCHES THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE OFTEN FACE AT AIRPORTS WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GLAAD MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM ARTICLE. OUR COLLABORATION WITH PBS FRONTLINE ON PROBLEMS WITH A NEW YORK CITY POLICY TO MOVE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE INTO PRIVATE APARTMENTS WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH AND JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE TELEVISION AND RADIO JOURNALISM CATEGORY. "FINANCIAL AID LOOPHOLE," A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS SERIES REVEALING THAT WELL-OFF FAMILIES WERE TRANSFERRING GUARDIANSHIP OF THEIR COLLEGE-BOUND TEENAGERS TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST NON-DEADLINE REPORTING. OUR REPORTING WITH PORTLAND MONTHLY ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY U.S. AMBASSADOR GORDON SONDLAND WAS A RUNNER-UP FOR THE SPJ NORTHWEST EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE FEATURE/HARD NEWS CATEGORY. OUR INSTAGRAM VIDEO, WHICH TOLD THE STORY OF A 16-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT WHO DIED WHILE IN BORDER PATROL CUSTODY, WON A SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN BRONZE MEDAL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA DESIGN. OUR REPORTING ON POLITICALLY CONNECTED BILLIONAIRES BENEFITING FROM THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX BREAK INTENDED AS AN ANTI-POVERTY MEASURE WAS SELECTED FOR THE SIGMA AWARDS SHORTLIST FOR DATA-DRIVEN REPORTING. "AGGRESSION DETECTORS," OUR INVESTIGATION ON UNPROVEN SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY SCHOOLS ARE USING TO MONITOR STUDENTS, WAS SELECTED FOR THE SIGMA AWARDS SHORTLIST FOR INNOVATION. OUR NEWS APPLICATIONS AND DATA VISUALIZATIONS WON A MALOFIEJ SILVER MEDAL IN THE FEATURES CATEGORY FOR "TRAPPED IN A DEADLY CHASE AND A MALOFIEJ BRONZE MEDAL FOR THE PORTFOLIO OF NEWS APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER AL SHAW. OUR ILLUSTRATION FOR A STORY ABOUT AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHO BEGAN KEEPING COUNT OF HEALTH WORKERS LOST TO COVID-19, WON A SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS SILVER MEDAL. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | PRO PUBLICA HAS ITS FORM 990 PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM AND HAS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION REPORTED IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. WHEN THE FORM 990 HAS BEEN PREPARED, REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION AND IS READY TO BE FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, IT IS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO ALL MEMBERS OF PRO PUBLICA'S GOVERNING BODY FOR ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO ITS SUBMISSION. THE GOVERNING BODY IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEEK TO REVIEW THE PREPARED FORM 990 AND PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS. ANY COMMENTS ARE THEN GROUPED, SUMMARIZED AND PROVIDED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR REVIEW. EACH ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED AND ADDRESSED UNTIL THE RETURN IS FINALIZED AND APPROVED FOR FILING. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | PRO PUBLICA HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, WHICH APPLIES TO ALL DIRECTORS (BOARD MEMBERS), OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES. AN INTERESTED PERSON MUST DISCLOSE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE TO THE SECRETARY THE EXISTENCE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ALL MATERIAL FACTS RELATED TO THE CONFLICT. IF A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS, HE/SHE MUST REPORT THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT IN ALL CASES IN WHICH A CRITICAL EXTERNAL OBSERVER MIGHT REASONABLY PERCEIVE A CONFLICT TO EXIST. THE BOARD COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS. IN THE EVENT THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISES, THE DIRECTOR OR OFFICER WITH WHOM THE CONFLICT PERTAINS TO IS EXCLUDED FROM VOTING ON THE ISSUE. HE/SHE MUST LEAVE THE ROOM AND THE OTHER DIRECTORS VOTE ON THE ISSUE PERTAINING TO THAT SPECIFIC TRANSACTION. WITH RESPECT TO ANY BOARD COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION, DECISION, OR ACTIONS INVOLVING TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING WILL REFLECT THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING PROCESS. IN CASE OF AN INTERESTED PARTY WHO IS NOT A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER, THE PRESIDENT MONITORS AND ENFORCES THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE/SHE CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING OF THE CONFLICTED TRANSACTION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A | SALARIES FOR THE CEOS ARE SET BY THE BOARD. THE BOARD USES THE SERVICES OF A LAW FIRM (CAPLIN & DRYSDALE, WHO SPECIALIZE IN NOT FOR PROFIT ISSUES) FOR GUIDANCE ON MATTERS OF CEO COMPENSATION. THE BOARD REVIEWS PROPOSED COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR THE CEOS IN RELATION TO THEIR PERFORMANCE, RATES OF INFLATION, COMPENSATION PRACTICES AND PLANS FOR OTHER PROPUBLICA EMPLOYEES, AND COMPARABLE DATA. COMPARABLE DATA MAY INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT JOURNALISM OUTLETS AS WELL AS OTHER NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. APPROVED SALARY CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED IN HUMAN RESOURCES FILES AND REQUIRE THE SIGNATURE OF BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE HR DIRECTOR. THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER IS ALSO DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. THIS PROCESS WAS LAST COMPLETED IN 2020. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE RETURN IS POSTED ON GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, FORM 990, FORM 1023, AND BY-LAWS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, AND ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE (WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG). |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: | LOSS ON DISPOSAL OF ASSET -1,892. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: | PRO PUBLICA HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FOR THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. |