We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization serving Fort Worth, Arlington and Tarrant County. We provide independent, factual news coverage that holds government officials accountable, finds solutions for community issues and strengthens a diverse and rapidly growing city and home county.
We launched in 2021 to fill the community’s need for more news about local government, schools, business, the environment, health care and other important topics.
We pledge to produce high-quality objective local journalism that informs public decision-making, addresses the quality of life of our community’s citizens, holds our policymakers accountable and tells our readers’ stories by listening to them and making sure they are valued and understood. In all that we do, earning the trust and respect of our audience is paramount. Our reporting will be free to all who access our primary digital channels.
The Fort Worth Report is committed to making Fort Worth and Tarrant County better through reliable local news reporting and information.
What is the Fort Worth Report?
Fort Worth Report is a 501(c)(3) organization that launched April 12, 2021. We provide our communities with journalism that is fact-based, thoughtful and free of bias. These principles guide all editorial decisions.
How are you funded?
The Burnett Foundation provided a generous grant of $1.25 million to fund our launch and support our first three years in business. Our community has stepped up to help us raise a total of more than several million, including foundation grants, individual gifts, corporate gifts, event sponsorships and advertising. Because we are a nonprofit, gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all gifts are re-invested in our news organization. Our commitment to financial transparency is detailed in our
donor transparency policy. Donating
individuals and
organizations are publicly available. Our IRS 990 tax filings are also shared here for
2019 (our legal founding year),
2020,
2021, and
2022.
How does your work impact Tarrant County?
On our website and in our newsletters, we’ve published thousands of pieces of original journalism since our launch on April 12, 2021. Our work has received a number of awards, including three first-place finishes in the local Society of Professional Journalists First Amendment Awards, 2023. However, we consider the impact our stories have on our community to be a more important measure. Our best stories have helped bring about needed change, helped residents understand complicated issues and helped bring our community closer together. More information can be found in our
annual impact report.
Why does nonprofit news matter?
Nonprofit news organizations are supported by and committed to the communities they serve. These organizations are not intended to replace traditional newspapers. They are intended to strengthen communities by holding those in power accountable, encouraging civic engagement and telling stories that would otherwise go untold.
The Fort Worth Report is and will always be a 501c3 nonprofit organization. This model allows us to adapt to the economic challenges caused by disruptive innovation. The nonprofit model also facilitates our editorial independence by ensuring our commitment to the wellbeing of Tarrant County’s communities rather than commercial or political interests.
What did your market research say?
Magid, a national consumer research firm specializing in local media, conducted audience research for Fort Worth Report in 2022. The research objective was to better understand what Tarrant County residents want in a local news source. We found that respondents believe community engagement is critical for both readers and local news sources. We also found that respondents, across demographics, are proud to live in their communities and proud to live in Texas. This information informs Fort Worth Report’s audience development and engagement efforts. We routinely review this research to produce journalism that Tarrant County residents want and need.
Are your stories free to read?
Yes, the news on our website is free to all, because we believe local journalism is a public service that should be available to everyone, whether or not the reader can afford to pay. We’re able to provide this public service thanks to individual and business memberships, donations, advertising, sponsorships, corporations and foundations.
Does the Fort Worth Report have a political or cultural bias?
No. Our mission is to produce trusted and independent local journalism. Whether we are successful is up to you – the audience. We do not publish partisan editorial opinions or candidate endorsements. Rather, we focus on reporting the facts that allow our audiences to form their own opinions.
What is the Arlington Report?
The Arlington Report is a nonprofit news source serving Arlington, Texas. It is powered by Fort Worth Report and KERA. All of the content, including the weekly newsletter, is free to read.
How can I help?
What else do I need to know about the Fort Worth Report?
We are committed to transparency in identifying those who make significant contributions to our operations. Here is our
donor transparency policy.
Can I republish Fort Worth Report’s stories?
We encourage organizations to use and republish Fort Worth Report stories, but they must fully follow our guidelines. The guidelines can be found
here or by clicking the republish button found at the end of our stories online.
