Hi Reader,

It’s no secret that journalism is in financial trouble. Newsrooms across the country are downsizing, even closing, leaving “news deserts” in their wake. The economic crisis brought on by the pandemic served to hasten even more closures over the last year. Deep-dive, investigative reporting is time-consuming and expensive, and so even though it is one of the most powerful tools we have to ensure a transparent democracy, it’s often among the first to be cut as remaining newsrooms struggle to stay afloat.

But ProPublica is different, thanks to readers like you. As a nonprofit newsroom, we don’t depend on advertising or short-term investors. We depend largely on donations from individuals, and over the last few years, we’ve grown significantly. We’re able to help fill undeniable gaps in deep-dive journalism left open all over the country.

In Tennessee, we reported on how the state has disenfranchised 21% of its Black citizens, a far higher proportion than any other state. In Missouri, we’ve been digging into St. Louis private policing and exposing how it’s creating disparities between wealthy and poor neighborhoods, turning security into something of a luxury. And in Colorado, we’ve been exposing the tragic consequences of the state’s lack of oversight and accountability in halfway houses. We’ve got reporters from Texas to Washington State to New York City digging deep into the issues that matter most to the people that live there.

As a reader of ProPublica, you know how important it is for journalists to have the freedom, resources and ability to pursue stories that shine a light on corruption, miscarriages of justice and other wrongdoing. We’re so grateful to our supporters for giving us the ability to make a difference where it’s most needed. I’m asking you to join us today with your donation of any amount and help power the largest team of investigative journalists in the country.

Thanks so much,
Jill Shepherd
Proud ProPublican