Texas Tribune

Texas Tribune The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, digital news organization based in Austin, Texas, focused on reporting about Texas public policy, Texas Legislature, and state-level politics. Founded in 2009, it operates events and investigative journalism initiatives serving readers across United States regions and collaborating with outlets in cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso. The organization frequently partners with national media like The New York Times, ProPublica, NPR, and regional papers including the Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Morning News.

History

The project was launched in 2009 by cofounders including philanthropist John Thornton, former editor Evan Smith, and veteran reporters from outlets such as the Texas Observer, the Austin Chronicle, and the Dallas Morning News. Early funding came from donors connected to institutions like the Houston Endowment and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and board members included figures from University of Texas at Austin and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. The outlet grew alongside other nonprofit ventures such as ProPublica, Public Radio International, and the Center for Investigative Reporting, adopting a digital-first model influenced by predecessors like Politico and the Guardian US. Over time leadership transitions involved executives with experience at Bloomberg News, Reuters, and The Washington Post, while newsroom talent included alumni from The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, ABC News, and local outlets such as the Austin American-Statesman.

Organization and Funding

The organization is structured as a nonprofit corporation with a board comprising business leaders, philanthropists, and former public officials from entities such as AT&T, T. Boone Pickens Foundation, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Major donors have included foundations like the Knight Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Annenberg Foundation, along with individual contributors connected to energy companies such as ExxonMobil and financial firms like Goldman Sachs. Revenue streams combine philanthropic grants, membership programs, event ticket sales with partners such as the University of Texas and corporate sponsors like Southwest Airlines, and syndication agreements with organizations including the Associated Press and McClatchy. The newsroom has received fellowships and support from programs at institutions such as the Knight Journalism Fellowship and collaborations with academic centers like the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Journalism and Coverage

Reporting priorities emphasize state political coverage, legislative tracking of the Texas Legislature sessions, and investigations into public institutions such as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Education Agency. The staff produces data-driven projects about statewide topics including demographics tied to the U.S. Census Bureau, electoral analyses referencing the Federal Election Commission and the Texas Secretary of State, and policy investigations involving agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice. Coverage has included issues related to energy infrastructure connected to Texas Railroad Commission, public finance involving the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas, and health topics intersecting with entities such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas Medical Center. Collaborations and joint investigations have been conducted with ProPublica, Reveal (Center for Investigative Reporting), and national broadcasters like PBS NewsHour.

Impact and Influence

Reporting has prompted responses from elected officials in the Texas Capitol including members of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, influenced litigation involving entities like the Texas Attorney General office, and been cited in proceedings at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and the Texas Supreme Court. Stories have shaped debates in political campaigns featuring figures such as Greg Abbott, Beto O'Rourke, Rick Perry, Wendy Davis, and Ted Cruz. The organization’s data tools and policy trackers are used by civic groups including League of Women Voters of Texas, think tanks like the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Center for Public Policy Priorities, advocacy groups such as MoveOn.org and Texas Organizing Project, and academic researchers at institutions like Rice University, Texas A&M University, and Southern Methodist University.

Awards and Recognition

The newsroom and individual journalists have received honors from organizations including the Pulitzer Prize finalists, the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Online Journalism Awards. Reporting has been recognized by foundations such as the Knight Foundation and the Poynter Institute, and journalists have been fellows at the Knight Foundation and recipients of awards from the Investigative Reporters and Editors and the American Journalism Review. The organization has been cited in peer outlets including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Time, and academic studies at the Shorenstein Center that examine digital nonprofit models.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in Texas Category:News organizations based in the United States