Fact Check: Campaign aims to double monthly donors for independent journalism.

Fact Check: Campaign Aims to Double Monthly Donors for Independent Journalism

What We Know

The claim that there is a campaign aimed at doubling monthly donors for independent journalism is supported by various initiatives currently underway. One significant effort is the NewsMatch campaign, which runs annually from November 1 to December 31 and matches donations made by new monthly donors. This campaign is spearheaded by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) and aims to bolster local support for independent journalism by doubling individual donations up to $1,000.

Additionally, a recent initiative led by the MacArthur Foundation has pledged $500 million to support the struggling local news industry. This funding is part of a broader effort to sustain independent journalism and ensure that communities have access to reliable news sources. The initiative, known as Press Forward, is designed to address the significant decline in local news outlets over the past two decades, where the number of newspapers in the U.S. has dropped from 8,891 in 2005 to just 6,377 in 2022.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, particularly with the NewsMatch campaign directly stating its goal to double donations from new monthly donors. This campaign has been effective in encouraging contributions to nonprofit journalism, as it incentivizes donors to commit to ongoing support rather than one-time gifts. According to DonorPerfect, recurring donors typically contribute significantly more annually than one-time donors, highlighting the potential impact of such campaigns on fundraising efforts.

However, while the NewsMatch campaign is a concrete example of efforts to double monthly donations, the broader claim about a campaign specifically targeting independent journalism may be somewhat misleading. The MacArthur Foundation's initiative, while substantial, does not explicitly state that it aims to double monthly donors but rather focuses on overall funding to support local journalism. This distinction is crucial, as it indicates that while there are efforts to increase funding for journalism, the specific goal of doubling monthly donors may not be universally applicable across all initiatives.

Moreover, the reliability of the sources is generally high. The Associated Press is a well-respected news organization, and the information provided about the MacArthur Foundation's funding is corroborated by multiple reputable outlets. The INN's NewsMatch campaign is also well-documented and has been a consistent effort since its inception.

Conclusion

The claim that there is a campaign aimed at doubling monthly donors for independent journalism is Partially True. While the NewsMatch campaign explicitly seeks to double donations from new monthly donors, the broader context of funding for independent journalism, such as the MacArthur Foundation's initiative, does not directly support the notion of a campaign specifically targeting the doubling of monthly donors. Therefore, while there are significant efforts to increase funding for independent journalism, the specific framing of the claim lacks comprehensive support.