Pro Publica Inc

TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST. BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST:OUR WORK SPURRED A HOST OF REAL-WORLD CHANGES IN 2021. PROPUBLICA'S COVERAGE OF THE JAN. 6 ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS USED TO IDENTIFY AND CHARGE SUSPECTS, AND IT WAS CITED IN MORE THAN 20 SUBPOENAS FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE EVENT. FLORIDA DRAMATICALLY REFORMED A DEEPLY FLAWED PROGRAM THAT FAILED TO PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR PARENTS OF BRAIN-DAMAGED NEWBORNS AFTER WE DREW ATTENTION TO IT. ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS BANNED THE USE OF RESTRAINTS AND SECLUSION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ENDED THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVERS' LICENSES FOR UNPAID TICKETS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXTENDED PPP LOANS TO THOUSANDS OF BORROWERS WHO HAD FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY, AND OUR REPORTING HELPED SOLVE THE COLD CASE OF A 1983 MURDER IN BALTIMORE. OUR JOURNALISM SHINED LIGHT ON A MASSIVE TROVE OF SECRET IRS DATA, REVEALING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES THAT ALLOW AMERICA'S WEALTHIEST CITIZENS TO PAY LITTLE OR NOTHING IN FEDERAL TAXES. WE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 1,000 HOT SPOTS OF CANCER-CAUSING INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTION ACROSS AMERICA; SHOWED THAT SALMONELLA IS RUNNING RAMPANT AND UNCHECKED THROUGH THE CHICKEN INDUSTRY; AND INVESTIGATED HOW LIBERTY UNIVERSITY DISCOURAGES, DISMISSES AND THREATENS TO PUNISH STUDENTS WHO REPORT RAPE. OTHER MEMORABLE STORIES INCLUDED AN EXAMINATION OF AMERICA'S UNREGULATED, OFTEN DANGEROUS SHADOW FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, THE PANDEMIC'S TOLL ON THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF TEENAGERS AND A HEART PUMP THAT WAS IMPLANTED IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DESPITE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAD POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS.PROPUBLICA HIRED 15 NEW REPORTERS TO COMPLETE OUR REGIONAL REPORTING UNITS IN THE MIDWEST, SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST, AND 15 REPORTERS BEGAN NEW OR CONTINUED PROJECTS WITH THE PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK. STORIES FROM THE LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK IN 2021 EXPOSED A TENNESSEE COUNTY'S HARSH JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT JAILED BLACK CHILDREN FOR A CRIME THAT DIDN'T EXIST; AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH RISKS POSED BY SUGAR CANE BURNING IN FLORIDA; IMPUNITY AFFORDED BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN LOUISIANA ACCUSED OF EXCESSIVE FORCE; AND THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN A SMALL NORTH CAROLINA TOWN. OTHER LOCAL WORK INCLUDED STORIES ON GOVERNMENT FAILURES TO PROTECT TEXAS COMMUNITIES FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND DEATHS, AND HOW DOZENS OF MISSOURI HOMEOWNERS WHO USED STATE-SUPPORTED "CLEAN ENERGY" LOANS TO FIX THEIR HOUSES ENDED UP TRAPPED IN DEBT.PROPUBLICA WON A NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY - OUR FOURTH EMMY AWARD AND FIRST SOLO EMMY - FOR THE VIDEO "RESCUING HER FATHER FROM AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN THE CORONAVIRUS EPICENTER." OUR INVESTIGATIVE WORK ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WAS A FINALIST FOR THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, WITH STORIES ABOUT DISPROPORTIONATE DEATHS AMONG BLACK AMERICANS AND HOW THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY IGNORED PANDEMIC WARNINGS WINNING A GEORGE POLK AWARD IN JOURNALISM. WE ALSO WON FIVE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS RECOGNIZING WORK ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN DIABETIC AMPUTATIONS AND KIDNEY CARE, HOW THE CORONAVIRUS WAS KILLING YOUNG BLACK MEN WITH DEADLY EFFICIENCY, A MICHIGAN TEEN JAILED FOR FAILING TO COMPLETE ONLINE SCHOOLWORK, THE EROSION OF HAWAII'S BEACHES, AND THE PORTRAITS AND STORIES OF 29 ALASKAN SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS. OUR PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH 71 IN 2021 ALONE. PARTNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR INCLUDED THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORKER, UNIVISION, TIME AND VOX.WE EXPANDED OUR EVENTS PROGRAM WITH 28 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS IN 2021. TOPICS INCLUDED THE OVER-INCARCERATION OF CHILDREN IN TENNESSEE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEVADA, SURGES IN VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS, HOW WHITE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE MARGINALIZED BLACK FARMERS IN ILLINOIS, THE RECORD DETENTION OF MIGRANTS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND THE UNEQUAL IMPACT THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING ON PEOPLE OF COLOR IN A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOWN. AMONG OTHERS, EVENT PARTNERS INCLUDED BRIDGE MICHIGAN, CLIMATE ONE, CODE FOR AMERICA, FLINT BEAT, GRIST, NASHVILLE PUBLIC RADIO, NEVADA HUMANITIES AND OUTLIER MEDIA.THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST AT PROPUBLICA IS WHETHER OUR WORK IS MAKING AN IMPACT. WE MEASURE IMPACT NOT IN TERMS OF AUDIENCE SIZE OR HONORS, BUT IN REAL-WORLD CHANGES TO BEHAVIORS, POLICIES OR LEGISLATION. WE PUBLISHED MORE THAN 470 STORIES IN 2021. THOSE ARTICLES LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF OFFICIALS, THE PASSAGE OF NEW LAWS AND OTHER CHANGES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WORK.