CalMatters

CalMatters
Formation2015
TypeNonprofit (501(c)(3))
PurposeCovering politics
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.

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. It has also credited its partnership with the LA Times and Capitol Public Radio, among others, as helping to grow the organization quickly. Neil Chase has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2019.

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. The documentary investigated U.S. Border Patrol raids in Kern County and was CalMatters' first venture into film production.

History

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

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.

CalMatters launched a rebranded website in 2019.

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

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.

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. 1 2 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.