Index in Focus highlights the emerging and distinct models for nonprofit news.

In this supplement to INN’s 2021 Index Report, we share fact sheets on the five key segments of nonprofit news: local news, state and regional news, national and global news, publications primarily serving communities of color, and single-topic news specialists. These segments are certainly not homogenous, yet each group shares characteristics in how they develop distinct revenue, product and audience models to support strong journalism and public service.

Fact Sheets

Download a PDF version of all fact sheets here.

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Methods

INN distributed the Index survey online in January 2021 to 284 INN network newsrooms, excluding service organizations that are also INN members, and 268, or 94%, completed the survey. Survey responses reflect performance in 2020. Survey language is provided here. The data do not scientifically represent all U.S. nonprofit news outlets, since not all belong to INN. Specific year-over-year comparisons should be interpreted cautiously; this report draws directional trends across the field.

To better understand how the field is developing, the Index team analyzed revenue and other performance data for 2020 based on:

• Geographic scope: Whether the organization serves a defined local community, focuses on news of a state or a region, or is national or global in the scope of its coverage.
• Coverage scope: Whether the organization focuses on a single-subject, a limited number or related subjects or covers general news like more traditional organizations.
• Journalistic mission: Whether the organization focuses primarily on in depth investigative reporting, analysis and explanatory journalism or current events.
• Communities of color: Whether or not an organization has a primary mission of providing coverage for and about one or more communities of color.

Note: These five categories are not mutually exclusive. All INN outlets fall into one of the three geographic categories: 1) local, 2) state or regional, or 3) national or global. Across all geographic categories combined, about one-fifth of outlets primarily serve communities of color, and a little over a fifth of outlets are single-topic news outlets. 

More of INN’s research

INN provides actionable research on nonprofit journalism for our members, partners and the wider field. Our research captures the progress and setbacks across the nonprofit news field and highlights the best practices and success stories that emerge from our members.

Have questions about the Index or nonprofit news data? Reach out to Emily Roseman, INN’s research director at emily.r@inn.org.

For media related inquiries about INN or Index In Focus, please contact news@inn.org.