We have written several exciting new chapters this year, but this one might be the biggest: The Austin Monitor will become the Austin Current.
The Austin Current is a bold, new local newsroom built to keep pace with Austin’s explosive growth. Our mission is simple: deliver journalism that is innovative in approach, uncompromising in standards and deeply connected to the needs of our community.
The Current builds on the strong foundation established by the Monitor. With roots that stretch back to the mid-90’s, we have been formally publishing as a nonprofit since 2013, and the Austin Monitor’s in-depth local government reporting has become a staple for the community. That same approach to coverage and unwavering commitment to serving the community will continue through the Austin Current.
“We’re creating a different kind of newsroom – one that listens closely to the community and delivers the coverage that matters most,” Editor-in-Chief Melissa Taboada said about the Current. “Our mission is to empower residents across the Austin area with trusted, relevant information that helps them engage more deeply with their community and work to address the challenges we all share.”
The Austin Current is the culmination of a period of intense community engagement following the announcement of the Austin Monitor joining forces with the Texas Tribune this past May.
In our fast-growing region and segmented information landscape, transparency and oversight matter more than ever, and we will double down on accountability reporting. The region needs comprehensive coverage of education and growth. These are the issues shaping our future, and we’re committed to covering them with the depth, context and clarity they deserve.
Our dream for the Austin Monitor was to serve the community with unique and impactful reporting that informed and engaged you and your neighbors. The mission was always bigger than a name. The Austin Current will take the baton and become an essential civic resource that closes information gaps, builds trust through collaboration and provides timely and relevant coverage that matters to Austinites.
As to the nuts and bolts of this next chapter: the Austin Monitor’s reporting will continue this month as the Austin Current prepares to launch a daily newsletter and expanded website. We’re also excited to share that the new audio-focused news show, the Austin Signal, created in partnership with KUT News, will begin airing today at 1 p.m. on KUT 90.5.
This has been truly a transformative year for us, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Your readership, your donations, your belief in our mission, your passion for the community – it all matters. Trusted local news is essential for a strong and thriving community and, frankly, it’s faced a lot of headwinds over the past two decades. We’re optimistic for our Austin community and we can’t wait to elevate our work and impact with you through the Austin Current.
The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.