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 […]
Joel Gross
Posted inMission Note
The Austin Monitor joins forces with the Texas Tribune
Today we’re humbled and honored to share the next chapter of our mission: The Austin Monitor has joined the Texas Tribune in a strategic acquisition designed to expand local news coverage in Austin. This partnership will combine the Monitor’s deep roots in Austin reporting with the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and infrastructure. Together, we’ll build a […]
Posted inMission Note
Leveraging the diverse strength of our community
Ask any Austinite what the most frustrating thing about living here is, and you likely get a wide gamut of rapid-fire thoughtful, personal and fiery responses. There is no shortage of complex issues that inspire impassioned reactions from us locals. But, rather than write off the grousing as a symptom of a city riddled with […]
Posted inMission Note
Enduring clarity and pressing forward with you
Running a nonprofit news organization is both hard and easy in this day and age. On the hard side, I’m not exaggerating when I say that the media industry at large is in a transformative period that will ultimately lead to its evolution or extinction. Headlines abound every week about the loss of journalism jobs […]
Posted inMission Note
Confidently taking our next step forward
The Austin Monitor’s first big step forward came nearly two years ago when we removed our paywall and made our articles and resources free and fully accessible to the entire community. This was a big change for our small but mighty news organization and, frankly, it was risky. Ultimately, we made this bold decision because […]
Posted inGraphics
Featured Data: Austin Police Department’s 148th cadet class
This data graphic first appeared in the story APD Training Academy audit shows improvement – but not enough to curb attrition on October 19, 2023 by Emma Freer. Graphic credit: Kroll Audit of APD Training Academy – 148th Cadet Class
Posted inGraphics
Featured Data: Subsidized Affordable Housing by Austin City Council District (2015 – 2022)
This data graphic first appeared in the story District-by-district analysis shows unequal progress on affordable housing construction on July 10, 2023 by Jonathan Lee. Graphic credit: HousingWorks Austin and their 2022 City Council District-by-District and Community at a Glance Analysis
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Featured Data: City of Austin voter approved bond amounts, 2006-2022
This data graphic first appeared in the story City officials say no to bond elections before 2026 on April 28, 2023 by Jo Clifton. Graphic credit: City of Austin.
Posted inGraphics
Featured Data: Community weighs in on affordable housing goals
This data graphic first appeared in the story Notley/Monitor Poll: Austinites divided on parking requirements, compatibility and other housing policies on February 14, 2023 by Jonathan Lee
Posted inAustin
Notley/Monitor Poll: The need for local leadership and deeper understanding
In the second installment of our Notley/Monitor poll series, commissioned by Notley and conducted by national pollster Change Research, Austinites clearly expressed the desire for stronger local leadership and show areas where they are divided and unsure of how to proceed. A majority of Austinites (53 percent) do not believe that City Council cares about […]
Posted inMission Note
It’s been a pivotal year
One year ago we removed our paywall and set a new course for our organization. For a small nonprofit news organization, this was a big change. We knew our in-depth and independent reporting would be the throughline and engine for this transition, so we felt solid on that front. But there were plenty of other […]
Posted inMission Note
City Summit: Reflections and looking ahead
As we enter November we’re approaching the first anniversary of removing our paywall. Though it feels like a lifetime ago, this was a major, risky and mission-driven decision for our nonprofit organization. In the year that followed, we knew that shifting from a niche, subscription-based publication into a fully accessible community-focused news organization was going […]