CalMatters
Formation2015
TypeNonprofit (501(c)(3))
HeadquartersSacramento, CA
Region served
California
CEO
Neil Chase
SubsidiariesThe Markup
AffiliationsInstitute for Nonprofit News
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization covering California state politics and policies, launched in 2015.[1][2]

As of 2017, it was becoming one of the largest nonprofit newsrooms in the country, raising 90 percent of its funding from individuals with only some foundation support.[3] It has also credited its partnership with the LA Times and Capitol Public Radio, among others, as helping to grow the organization quickly.[3] Neil Chase has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2019.[4][5][6]

In April 2026, CalMatters received a News & Documentary Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Editing: News category for "Operation Return to Sender," a documentary produced in collaboration with Bellingcat and Evident Media.[7][8] The documentary investigated U.S. Border Patrol raids in Kern County and was CalMatters' first venture into film production.[9]

History

Founders cited the decline in coverage of state politics in the decade leading up to the founding of CalMatters as a major motivation.[10]

Upon Donald Trump taking office, the website launched a project called "Trump v. California" which highlighted the criticisms made by the president against the heavily Democratic state.[11]

CalMatters launched a rebranded website in 2019.[12]

In November 2023, Andrew Donohue was named investigative editor and expanded his investigative team from three to five in 2023.[13]

In 2024, nonprofit news outlet The Markup merged newsrooms with CalMatters, citing complementary funders and expertise, with The Markup having a more technical and narrower focus on national and global technology policy.[14][15]

Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Biasotti, Tony (June 5, 2015). "A new nonprofit hopes to fill a void in coverage of California". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Ellis, Justin (June 8, 2015). "CALmatters aims to make people interested in state government and fill a gap in California". Nieman Lab. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Westphal, David (October 30, 2017). "Journalism's New Patrons: California nonprofit targets individual donors". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Neil Chase to CEO at CALmatters". CNPA. December 18, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  5. ^ "Stanford Welcomes Neil Chase, CEO of CalMatters.org – Brown Institute". October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "Neil Chase". Institute for Nonprofit News. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
  7. ^ "CalMatters, Evident Media and Bellingcat documentary nominated for Emmy award". CalMatters. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  8. ^ "2026 News and Documentary Emmys: National Geographic Leads Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  9. ^ "CalMatters Documentary Earns 2026 Emmy Nomination". California Wave. April 8, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  10. ^ Doctor, Ken (February 17, 2015). "What are they thinking? CALmatters wants to shake up California statehouse". Politico. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019.
  11. ^ Schmidt, Christine (July 3, 2017). "Two years in, state government site CALmatters is collaborating to make a name for itself". Nieman Lab. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Schmidt, Christine (July 10, 2019). "How CALmatters is growing out of its startup stage". Nieman Lab. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Peck, G. A. (2024). Making the Team. Editor & Publisher, 157(2), 46–49.
  14. ^ Scire, Sarah (April 25, 2024). "Seeking "innovative," "stable," and "interested": How The Markup and CalMatters matched up". Nieman Lab. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Fischer, Sara (April 18, 2024). "California news nonprofit CalMatters acquires tech news nonprofit The Markup". Axios. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  16. ^ Quick, Sonya (June 16, 2025). "CalMatters' Digital Democracy and CBS News collaboration wins Emmy award". CalMatters. Retrieved October 4, 2026.