Analysis
As Nonprofit News Is Targeted, Co-ops Offer a Way Forward
April 16, 2025
Nonprofit journalism is under pressure—and under fire.
With rising scrutiny from politicians and increasing calls for audits, oversight, and even revocation of nonprofit status, media entrepreneurs face an uncertain road ahead. The chilling effect is real, especially for nonprofit newsrooms focused on accountability, equity, and public-interest reporting.
In this landscape, cooperative media offers a powerful alternative—one that’s not just sustainable, but resilient.
Unlike traditional nonprofits that rely heavily on philanthropic dollars and centralized governance, co-ops distribute ownership and decision-making across journalists, audience members, and civic stakeholders. They build power with community, not around it. They’re harder to silence, more adaptable under pressure, and deeply rooted in the public they serve.
This model isn’t hypothetical. Across the country, cooperative and community-led newsrooms are producing trusted civic news, building sustainable revenue streams, and training the next generation of media makers. Think The Colorado Sun, City Bureau, and Conversaciones de Salud—a youth-led, bilingual newsroom in Minnesota focused on public health and civic information.
The Pivot Fund’s recent Minnesota News Landscape Analysis surfaced a growing appetite for models like these—especially in communities long overlooked by traditional media and funders.
Cooperative media isn’t just a business model.
It’s a strategy for survival, relevance, and power.
Join us on Wednesday, April 23 at 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET to learn how media entrepreneurs and community leaders are using cooperative structures to future-proof civic journalism and expand ownership at the local level.
Connect with us: eric@thepivotfund.org