Mission Note
Introducing the Austin Monitor's strategic advisory council of guides
Few industries are as American as the press. Revered by the Founding Fathers as “one of the great bulwarks of liberty,” the role of the free press is literally written into the First Amendment, and its impact has proven invaluable…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Sep 23, 2021
Local news is a two-way street
I often describe the Austin Monitor as a news source that exists at the intersection of local government and community. One of the many reasons we believe this space is so important is because of the tremendous influence each side…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Jun 29, 2021
Our decisions shape the community
I previously described elections as a “high-stakes civic intersection between information and action” – in other words, right in the Austin Monitor’s wheelhouse. When it comes to turnout, this recent special election had numerous factors stacked against it: mid-year (not…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • May 18, 2021
Our journey ahead
Everyone who has ever found themselves fighting the good fight for a nonprofit has a personal story about how they got there. I love hearing these stories, and while the details are always unique, they all follow the same humanizing…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Apr 20, 2021
Publisher's Note: Kelsey joins Capital of Texas Media Foundation
When we sketched out plans for a new Austin-focused think tank, we envisioned an organization that could dive deep into the metro area’s many challenges and opportunities. But we also realized we would have to put our own community’s issues…
Mission Note • By Dan Zehr • Aug 8, 2019
Publisher's Note: A new chapter
A thriving and vibrant community requires a robust independent press, an engaged citizenry, and the evidence policymakers and citizens need to make informed decisions. Since its inception almost six years ago, the Capital of Texas Media Foundation has sought to…
Mission Note • By Dan Zehr • Jun 20, 2019
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Publisher's note: Changing of the guard
Hi y’all! My time as interim publisher here at the Monitor is coming to a close. In my previous roles, I have always found such value in the coverage that this publication provides and I am grateful that I had…
Mission Note • By Mike Clark-Madison • Feb 5, 2018
Publisher's Note – Penny Pass
As you know, we operate on a subscription service. That is how we are able to pay our awesome reporters and bring you all the great coverage that we do. (To make it simple, the more subscriptions we have, the…
Mission Note • By Ashley Fisher • Aug 11, 2017
Onward (in a different kind of way...)
I write you all this morning with a bit of news: At the end of May, I’ll head over to The Texas Observer, where I will serve as that venerable publication’s publisher. I’m also pleased to say that the Austin…
Mission Note • By Michael Kanin • Apr 28, 2017
Publisher's Note: PennyPass incoming
I have a bit of news, but first I want to be sure that we’re all on the same page with regard to terminology and philosophy. The Austin Monitor employs a paymeter (stay with me here, it’ll be worth it)…
Mission Note • By Michael Kanin • Mar 22, 2017
Publisher's Note: Why your Monitor is a bit light this morning
How’s this for a morning duh: Diversity is nothing but good for a newsroom. Without it, we can’t well claim to cover every possible angle of a story. Your Monitor has a bit of work to do on our cultural…
Mission Note • By Michael Kanin • Mar 9, 2017
Publisher's Note: Into 2017
December 2016 marks the third anniversary of the rebranding that gave birth to the Austin Monitor. In those three years, we’ve rebuilt our web home, expanded our coverage, made room for some new voices in the coverage of Austin and…
