At various key moments in the history of our republic, the country was literally saved by muckraking, crusading ANNUAL journalists. Today there is nobody else REPORT doing what Mother Jones does. —Bill MOYERS 05 mother jones and the foundation for national progress COV1002 06 OUR MISSION Mother Jones produces revelatory journalism that, in its power and reach, seeks to inform and inspire a more just and democratic world. The nonprofit Foundation for National Progress publishes Mother Jones magazine and MotherJones.com, directs the foundation for national progress the Mother Jones Internship Program, and sponsors The Media Consortium, a net- work of indpendent media organizations. 222 Sutter Street Suite 600 | San Francisco, CA 94108 P: 415.321.1700 | F: [email protected] 2 From the publisher 2 What We do 4 Mother Jones 2.0 6 Feature stories 8 Contributors & supporters Contents 13 The Mary harris Jones legacy society 14 Statement of activities 16 Board of directors 18 Staff 05 20 Giving opportunities 06 WHat WE DO real-world experience in the From the Publisher essentials of investigative MOTHER JONES journalism, working side- MAGAZINE by-side with senior editors fact-checking, reporting, The flagship project of the Dear friends, and writing original stories. Foundation for National The success of the Progress, award-winning This is an “annual” report with a mising, by exposing corporate wrongs and government program is shown by the Mother Jones magazine was difference — and not just because careers of its alumni. Mother launched 31 years ago to deception, by raising tough questions when other voices Jones interns and fellows provide a diverse national it covers two years in Mother have been silent, we have written history together. have gone on to prominent audience with investigative Jones’ (and the planet’s) history. We will leave it to others, though, to write the book. positions in journalism at the journalism and thoughtful, We’ve taken this occasion, The other reason this annual report is different is that it New York Times, Newsweek, progressive analysis of critical first, to look back at 30 years of ultimately looks to the future. Whatever we’ve achieved Time, The Los Angeles issues. Paid circulation for extraordinary journalism from Times, CBS News, Reuters, Mother Jones magazine is in the past has been a warm-up for helping address the National Public Radio, and 230,000. the pages of Mother Jones magazine — every page of crises the world now faces. Mother Jones aims now to many other print, broadcast, every issue is now quickly accessible and searchable contribute in substantial ways to the broad movement MOTHERJONES.COM and online news media. through our anniversary DVD. As Adam Hochschild to combat climate change, to reverse deepening inequal- In 1993, Mother Jones observes in his essay included with the package, when ity, and to create a truly global community. These times THE MEDIA became the first general- CONSORTIUM interest magazine on the he, Paul Jacobs, and Richard Parker published the first are filled with peril, but they are rich as well with possi- Internet. From its inception, issue of Mother Jones in February 1976 (typeset in hot bility and hope, and those working for sanity and justice The Foundation for National MotherJones.com has lead type, no less), they had no notion that the maga- will need courageous journalists on their side. Progress is the sponsor for broadened the reach and The Media Consortium, zine would survive, much less flourish, all these years. For Mother Jones, this is a time for radical question- impact of Mother Jones a network of leading Thanks, though, in considerable measure to your gen- magazine through its ing, experimentation, innovation, and evolution – in progressive independent blend of original content erosity, Mother Jones grew and evolved with the times, the jargon of our time, we’re building Mother Jones 2.0. journalism organizations. and coverage of topics furthering our mission to create and distribute smart, Over the next two years, you will see dramatic change The Consortium’s goals first presented in print. A fearless journalism. These 30 years have seen an organi- as we adapt to the possibilities of the new media world are to create smart, winner of multiple Webby powerful, and passionate zation that started life as “a magazine for the rest of us” that has brought so much communication power to awards for its coverage journalism that changes expand the definition of itself with an early and innova- of politics, MotherJones. our desktops. We intend to be fluent with whichever the terms of the American com reaches over 2 million tive web site, partnerships in television and radio, and technologies and modes of story telling are right for political and cultural debate, unique visitors a year. significant investment and success in garnering broad, a given story — whether it’s hot lead type or the next to redefine “independent progressive media” so that beyond-the-choir reach for our investigative stories. All wave in the digital media revolution. MotHER JONES it reaches and serves the the while we have stayed true to the original staff’s com- INTERNSHIP PROGRAM I invite you to join us. In 2037, when we look back audience of the 21st century, Since 1980, Mother Jones mitment to human rights, social justice, a healthy envi- together at these next 30 years, we intend to celebrate to create a cooperative has been the home for ronment, and an inclusive democracy. the history that has been written. infrastructure that supports the largest internship and Many fine people over many years have contributed a sustainable future for fellowship program in the to the effectiveness of Mother Jones – committed edi- progressive journalism, and independent media world. to help get the message tors and businesspeople, brave freelance reporters, Over the years, nearly 700 out to millions of Americans interns and fellows have talented partners, and generous financial supporters. looking for honest, fair, gone through an intensive By keeping Mother Jones independent and uncompro- Jay Harris, President & Publisher and accurate journalism. 2 3 Mother Jones 2.0 Investing in independent journalism for the next 30 years Thirty years ago, Adam Hochschild, Paul Jacobs, Richard Parker, —and as independent sources have a hard time filling the gap, and the other founders of Mother Jones had an idea for a new the deceptions go unchallenged, and meaningful responses to kind of independent, progressive magazine that (as Adam has real threats become all the more difficult. written) had a “passion for justice,” exposed the “great power THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD wielders of our time,” and was “well-written,” “attractive to the There’s more to this story, though. eye,” and built on “careful business planning” to boot. Turned off by trends toward superficial and infotainment news, Fast forward to today, and the need for this kind of journalism people are hungry for substantive and credible sources of news—for hasn’t diminished one iota. We see people searching for ways to places they can go to get the real story. New audiences are emerging. have a vibrant, public, and fact-based discussion about new direc- And the very model of “news” itself is changing, becoming interac- tions for our country and the world. They are looking for vigorous tive, community-building, and empowering. There is huge potential media committed to the principles of an open society. for connecting quality reporting with previously unseen levels of citi- This is Mother Jones’ mission. We stand with one foot in the zen engagement — if, that is, those of us who believe in those values American tradition of courageous, independent investigative don’t let the Internet’s enormous promise slip through our fingers. journalism, and the other in the legacy of smart, effective, and But good reporting, whether it’s exposing scandal or probing progressive social change. While our values inspire our choice of deeply into complex issues, is irreducibly important for our jobs as investigative topics, as professional journalists we are committed citizens. It informs our thinking, not just this morning or this elec- to the highest standards of fairness, accuracy, and integrity. tion, but for a decade or a lifetime. TWO CHALLENGES More than three decades after the first issue of Mother Jones hit the streets, we’re ready to invest in the next generation for Mother Political life today is dominated by out-of-control spin and BS. Jones, a new kind of independent journalism organization. In bitterly partisan legislative battles and elections, truth, sci- We see Mother Jones as a powerful independent news orga- ence, and facts have been made incidental, valuable only when nization, broader than any one medium. That identifies those they provide tactical advantage. The result too often has been a stories where energetic reporting can shift how elites and the frightening disconnect between political agendas and the larger public understand an issue, changing minds. That makes smart problems facing the country and world—war, poverty, and ecologi- use of strategy, technology, and networks to bring important cal crises, to name but three. journalism to people’s attention. That calls politics and the Compounding this is a media establishment that is, to a frighten- media back to what is real and urgent in the world. ing extent, missing in action. We’ve been taught that a “free press” We call it Mother Jones 2.0. has a central role to play in confronting and correcting political per- fidy, yet that role is being written out of the script by corporate and OUR GOAL political pressures on for-profit news organizations. And while there Our goal is to raise $3.75 million for investments in reporting, expan- are plenty of progressive and independent websites that do a great sion of our online operations, strategic communications, and smart job at framing, spinning, and echoing each other on the news of business ideas.