If it is free and can make your life better, then we are talking about a public service. We are all aware that one of journalism’s primary purposes is to serve the public interest, but it doesn’t happen all the time. At ProPublica, it happens every day. Based in New York, the organization has only one main goal: To use investigative journalism to make a difference in American society. We visited the outlet and sat down with the editors. Here’s what we learned about how they do something that so few other outlets around the world are able to do.
What ProPublica does
ProPublica was founded in 2007-2008 with “the belief that investigative journalism is critical to our democracy,” as we can read on their website.
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit organization that produces investigative journalism with, in their words, “moral force.” Since its founding, ProPublica has been committed to uncovering abuses of power, corruption and injustice. This work has earned the organization six Pulitzer Prizes, among other awards. With a team of more than 150 editorial staffers, ProPublica covers a range of topics including government and politics, business, criminal justice, the environment, education, health care, immigration and technology.
In their “manifesto,” they state they are focused on “stories with the potential to spur real-world impact.” What sets ProPublica apart from other outlets is its investigative reporting. While many newsrooms have had to scale back long-term, in-depth investigations due to economic pressures, ProPublica has done the opposite. Its sole mission is to produce journalism that sparks change, whether that be policy reforms, legal action or simply a more informed public.
They describe themselves as follows: “We dig deep into important issues, shining a light on abuses of power and betrayals of public trust – and we stick with those issues as long as it takes to hold power to account.”
A model for a public service mission
In talking with the editors of ProPublica, they say they made a real difference in people’s everyday life.
One of the secrets is the economic structure. They overcame the traditional business advertising and subscription-based model using a donor-based model that allows them to keep their website open to everyone. The editors say this structure gives its team of journalists the most important assets they could ever have: time and freedom.
Investigative journalism requires a long period of work and resources, few newsrooms in the world can afford to take on this kind of in-depth reporting. At ProPublica, thought, the money raised through donations goes directly into world-class and award-winning journalism. The outlet raises about $45 million nowadays, much more than the $10 million of its early years. Donations allow ProPublica to thrive. People trust the publication and are happy to contribute to an outlet that improves society, making the place where they live better.
In addition, thanks to the philanthropic donations, ProPublica is free from the corporate and political pressures that could influence other news organizations.
Stories from ProPublica made a difference
One of the most striking examples of how ProPublica’s investigative journalism makes a difference came in 2017, when the organization published the “Lost Mothers” series on U.S. maternal mortality. The articles exposed how the United States had one of the highest maternal death rates among developed countries, with a disproportionate number of victims being Black women.
The investigation directly led to legislative reforms and new policies aimed at improving maternal care in several states, saving countless lives and forcing the healthcare system to confront its deep-seeded inequities.
In another case, ProPublica’s reporting on the abuse of Chicago public school students with disabilities resulted in immediate changes within the school district. The investigation uncovered systemic mistreatment, leading to federal and state interventions that demanded reforms.
Articles like these didn’t just expose a problem or inform the public: They improved lives and catalysed systemic change. Its investigations serve as a powerful reminder of what journalism can and should be: A tool for accountability, transparency and, most importantly, justice. ProPublica isn’t just telling stories, it’s shaping a better, more equitable society through journalism.
