Announcing the Launch of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund

I'm delighted that today we are launching a new venture -- The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. This nonprofit Fund will produce a wide-range of investigative journalism created by both staff reporters and freelance writers.

As the newspaper industry continues to contract, one of the most commonly voiced fears is that serious investigative journalism will be among the victims of the scaleback. And, indeed, many newspapers are drastically reducing their investigative teams. Yet, given the multiple crises we are living through, investigative journalism is all the more important. As a result, all who recognize the indispensable role good journalism plays in our democracy are looking for ways to preserve it during this transitional period for the media. For too long, whether it's coverage of the war in Iraq or the economic meltdown, we've had too many autopsies and not enough biopsies. The HuffFund is our attempt to change this. It will also provide new opportunities for seasoned journalists who have been laid off or forced into early retirement.

The pieces developed by the Fund will range from long-form investigations to short breaking news stories and will be presented in a variety of media, including text, audio and video. And, in the open source spirit of the Web, all of the content the Fund produces will be free for anyone to publish.

Picture a large pool of reporters -- some on staff, and many freelancers -- proposing stories and also receiving assignments from Investigative Fund editors.

This investigative initiative is being funded by The Huffington Post and The Atlantic Philanthropies, and will be headed by Nick Penniman, founder of The American News Project, which will be folded into the Fund. Nick and I first worked together back in 2000 when we organized the Shadow Conventions to address issues -- poverty, the failed drug war, and money in politics - that neither political party was focusing on. We've stayed in touch ever since, and I am really looking forward to working with him on producing journalism with real impact.

We'll start with a budget of $1.75 million -- and continue to raise funds and expand the project as we move forward.

We are delighted that we will be working on this venture with a number of partners, including the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and NYU's Jay Rosen. This is our second collaboration with Jay, after teaming up to launch OffTheBus, which produced great citizen-powered coverage of the 2008 campaign.

The Fund is ready to interview potential editors and reporters and also to start receiving proposals for investigative projects. The focus at the beginning is going to be on investigating aspects of the economic crisis. So please email resumes and pitches -- as well any ideas and tips you may have about what should be investigated -- to [e-mail].

Comments

[ScarletKnight1307]

I think this is a great Idea and I think I heard AH bring this up several months before. I can tell you one fraud that has been under reported is that 30-40% of the sub prime loans the homeowners qualified for better mortgages. A lot of these people minorities and especially Hispanics were steered into these mortgages because of lack of knowledge and language barriers. I heard of shops that were taking Hispanics with 700 FICO's basically Great credit and putting them into 3 and 5 year adjustable rate mortgages that when they readjusted was far higher than they could afford causing delinquency and then making them bad credit risks after the original fraud while these shops were making 5 points.

[jeffmarks327]

A very timely idea. Frankly it would seem serious investigative reporting died with the advent of the Bush regime. Courageous reporters seem to have all severed their testicles and got in line for the pablum of lies that noxious gang of capitalist hoodlums dished out to those who kept their mouths shut and fawned appropriately. When Katy Couric assured us the Saudis were our best friends and slipped into the evening news slot, well...good bye serious news- hello corporate propaganda at 6 o'clock.

[arvay]

Fantastic idea. And you can count on your many readers and posters to feed tips and information that conventional news sources would have a hard time getting.

[rubinoff]

arvay:

yes, a good idea; however, let's hope that its not censored like it is here on huffpo. :( just sayin.

[maab76]

This is a terrific idea in a time of need for both the readers and the producers/reporters of information. The closing or shrinking of many of our respected newspapers means that there are many fine reporters available to post those items they are interested in researching. Chicago has two special resources I hope you will contact: the Journalism School at Northwestern University and the many fine in-depth researchers from the shrinking Chicago Tribune.

Please include those who find humor or conflict in the news: the oral humorist e.g. Franken, and the cartoonist. The provide the impetus to see more than one side of any story.

[ghostoftompaine]

Why isn't anyone investigating the Federal Reserve System.

[den1953]

There will be more and more carpral tunnel claims now maybe a surge in computer sales thank you for the boost to the economy,now if you chould only solve the 7,000,000 other problems this country has!

[monicaangela]

Thank you for realizing how important it is for the public to be informed, in a Democratic Republic access by the citizens to the truth is a must. I hope you plan to investigate the trashing of the constitution and war crimes committed by the past administration, and while you are investigating the economy, I hope you will decide to do some investigative reporting on the connecftion between the bankers, financial institutions, insurance companies and the past and present administrations. Thank you for consideration of my request, and thanks again for providing the best blog on the net.

[returnofthejedi]

Great Idea Arianna. Thank you for all you do.

[Mahrion]

I know crown you, Queen of Journalism!

[ken strolle]

YES YES YES!!! I f things don't get investigated THEY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!!!!

Thank you for making the furture better!

[freeUSofcorp]

So glad to see this idea. Investigative reporting is important as well as exciting. I love it when corruption is exposed and demolished.

[karinova]

Oh HELL yes!
This is the best news I've heard all month!

W00t!

[christea39]

As a nation, we are in a period of "CORRECTION after 8 years of CORRUPTION". Corporate owned media are as bad as the whoremongering lobbyists in Washington. Americans are smarter than the "pundits". ENOUGH!!! and YES WE CAN and YES WE WILL!!! Faint NOT Americans!

[rhubardpi]

Brilliant !! Can ya git Sarah Palin, she can see stuff most folks caan't, e.g. she can see the back side of the moon from her bathroon toilet while she is listening to Rush....and then the flush. Makes me gush. Oh, and her husband can Mush. Now I will hush.

[LeftLeanWing]

lol

[freeijoe]

Thanks Arianna. for having the courage,to spread the new word again investigative reporting,as a man from the caribbean who lived in the USA for twenty five years Bush policy help me and my wife move,we now live where its all of us not us against them,diferent laws for third world countries like V.A.T. poor countries force to pay loans .Unlike bailouts for decievers and liars and warmongers,i will be one of your reporters checking the money in the Caribbean.in the islands on the sun.Where has the patriots gone?