May 23, 2023

New data from the INN Index 2023 describe a robust nonprofit news field, increasing in capacity and influence, according to a variety of indicators including the numbers of INN Network members, total revenue, philanthropic revenue and staffing size, according to the INN Index Snapshot released today.

“Each year, hundreds of news outlets share their data and knowledge with INN, giving us a look into nonprofit news development primarily within the U.S. The breadth of growth this year is clear every way we slice the data,” said Emily Roseman, INN’s director of research. “These public-interest outlets are finding a way to serve and take root in hundreds of communities, rallying more supporters that will sustain this sector for years to come.” 

Here are a few key findings from the INN Index Snapshot:

• The sector saw 17% growth in the number of digital-first news outlets between 2021 and 2022. Estimated revenue grew 19% across the field in the same period, to just under $500 million. This indicates that growth in the field is not stretching or competing for a static or shrinking pool of resources, but that news organizations are developing new resources as they grow and as new ones launch and build support in additional communities. More than 80% of the outlets surveyed either grew total revenue or maintained revenue from 2021 to 2022.

• Overall staffing numbers are also in line with that rate of revenue and outlet growth, representing a 15% increase in workforce size compared to the previous year. INN estimates that the INN Network’s digital-first members employ nearly 4,000 people. Of those, roughly two-thirds are editorial staff, nearly 2,700 reporters, editors and other kinds of journalists.

• When the entire INN membership is evaluated — including public media outlets in addition to independent, digital-first newsrooms — estimated revenue increases to the range of $600 million to $800 and total newsroom editorial staff could be as high as 3,500-4,200 reporters, editors and other journalists. INN’s research team analyzes digital-first outlets independently from our three dozen public broadcasting members because public media’s organizational structures make it challenging to estimate the amount of revenue tied to their news operations and the size of their newsroom staff. 

• Fieldwide growth is fairly evenly distributed across outlets covering local, regional, statewide, national and global issues. 

The INN Index Snapshot is based on 2022 data from 315 nonprofit news outlets, representing a 90% survey response rate to the sixth annual INN Index study. INN will release a deeper INN Index Report focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion across the field in summer 2023. 

The Index is part of an array of  programs and shared services advancing growth of the field and INN’s more than 400 member nonprofit news organizations. 

Today, INN also released the latest INN Impact Report covering results from capacity-building programs including revenue and audience development, leadership and DEI, content distribution and editorial collaborations. The Impact Report illustrates how programs such as the NewsMatch matching gift campaign are building a strong and diverse support base for the nonprofit news field. Since 2017, NewsMatch has leveraged more than $25 million in seed funding to help generate an additional $246 million from community support for public service reporting. 

INN’s 2023 Index Snapshot is sponsored by the Google News Initiative (GNI). Index reports are also made possible thanks to the Knight Foundation along with INN’s general support funders, including Arnold Ventures, Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Battery Powered, Democracy Fund, GA News Lab, Hubbard Family Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Nan H. Altmayer Charitable Trust, Present Progressive Fund, PCLB Foundation and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.