First Look Media

First Look Media is a U.S.-based media organization founded in 2013 by eBay entrepreneur and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar. Initially conceived as a partnership with journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill following their reporting on the National Security Agency disclosures by Edward Snowden, the organization aims to produce investigative journalism and independent storytelling. It operates through a hybrid structure, encompassing both nonprofit and for-profit entities dedicated to supporting a free press and holding powerful institutions accountable.

History

The genesis of the organization followed the groundbreaking 2013 revelations by Edward Snowden, which were published by The Guardian and The Washington Post. Omidyar, inspired by this work, pledged substantial funding to create a new platform for adversarial journalism, initially announcing a partnership with Greenwald, Poitras, and Scahill. Its first major launch was the investigative news outlet The Intercept in February 2014, co-founded by those journalists. In subsequent years, the portfolio expanded to include the documentary unit Field of Vision, the entertainment studio Topic, and the now-defunct satire site The Nib. The organization has also made significant investments in other media entities, such as the now-shuttered The Marshall Project and the criminal justice outlet The Appeal.

Structure and operations

It operates through a unique dual structure designed to leverage both philanthropic and commercial capital. The parent entity, First Look Media Works, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that houses its charitable and journalistic initiatives, including The Intercept and Field of Vision. Alongside it, First Look Media Holdings functions as a for-profit holding company for entertainment ventures like Topic, which produces and distributes scripted series and films. This model is intended to allow the nonprofit arm to focus on public-interest reporting while the for-profit side seeks sustainable revenue through entertainment, with profits potentially funneled back to support the journalism. The organization is headquartered in New York City.

Notable projects and publications

Its flagship publication, The Intercept, has broken major stories on national security, surveillance, and politics, including the Drone papers and extensive reporting on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice. The documentary studio Field of Vision has produced acclaimed films such as The Look of Silence and The Edge of Democracy, earning recognition at the Academy Awards and festivals like Sundance Film Festival. The entertainment division, Topic, has released original series including The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey and Soul of a Nation. Other past initiatives included the graphic journalism site The Nib and the podcast Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill.

Leadership and key people

The organization was founded and is primarily funded by Pierre Omidyar, who also chairs its board. Operational leadership has included several notable figures: former Rolling Stone editor Eric Bates served as executive editor, and John Temple, former editor of the Rocky Mountain News, held managing editor roles. Michael Bloom currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Key editorial leadership has historically involved its founding journalists, notably Glenn Greenwald, who departed in 2020, and Jeremy Scahill, who remains a senior correspondent and editor. Laura Poitras, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, has been closely associated with Field of Vision.

Criticism and controversies

The organization has faced significant internal and external scrutiny. It has been embroiled in public disputes over editorial direction and management, most notably the 2020 departure of Glenn Greenwald, who accused editors of censoring his critical reporting on Joe Biden. Earlier, in 2018, co-editors-in-chief Betsy Reed and John Cook were subjects of internal tumult following the resignation of journalist Matthew Cole over editorial disagreements. Externally, its reporting, particularly from The Intercept, has drawn fierce criticism from government officials, including the Donald Trump administration and the Central Intelligence Agency, for its national security disclosures. Some media analysts have also questioned the sustainability and focus of its hybrid nonprofit-for-profit model.