The Current (news organization)
Non-profit online news organization | |
Editor | Christiaan Mader |
---|---|
Managing editor | Leslie Turk |
Founded | 2017 |
Language | English |
City | Lafayette, Louisiana, United States |
Website | thecurrentla |
The Current is a
History
The Current first appeared in April 2017 as a glossy print monthly published by IND Media, the company behind The IND Monthly (previously The Independent Weekly), a Lafayette alternative newspaper. With a print run of 10,000 copies, it was branded as "Lafayette's journal of culture, commentary and ideas."[2][3]
The glossy Current only lasted three issues.[4] In July 2017, amid widespread financial declines in newspapers, IND Media announced it was shutting down The IND Monthly after 14 years and suspending publication of The Current.[5] A few weeks later, IND Media announced that The Current's editorial director, Christiaan Mader, was acquiring the brand and planned to relaunch it as "a community-supported, primarily digital outlet," which it did in April 2018.[6][7]
The following year, The Current announced it would become a nonprofit organization, putting "local journalism where it always belonged — in the category of public service."[8] It was granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service in February 2021.[9]
Organization and funding
Mader is The Current's editor. Leslie Turk, previously of The IND Monthly, is managing editor.[10]
The Current is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, Solutions Journalism Network, and LION Publishers. David Begnaud of CBS News is a member of its board of directors.[10]
It is primarily funded by Lafayette-area individuals and foundations, but it has also received donations from the
In 2020, it reported annual revenue of $90,930. That sum increased to $256,717 in 2021 and $289,786 in 2022.[9]
References
- ^ "The Current". Facebook. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "The Current is now". The Independent. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "The Current (digital edition)". npaper-wehaa.com. No. April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "The Current (digital archives)". npaper-wehaa.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "IND Media closing The Independent, suspending ABiz and The Current". The Independent. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Christiaan Mader acquiring, relaunching The Current". The Independent. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "New Domestic Filings: 10/01/2017 to 10/08/2017". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ Mader, Christiaan (29 May 2019). "The Current is going nonprofit. Here's why". The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Current Media (Christiaan Mader Sole Mbr) in Lafayette, LA". OrgCouncil. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "About Us". The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Our Donors". The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.