Our Mission, Vision, and Values
Empowering Americans through transparency journalism
Franklin News Foundation’s mission is to hold government accountable through balanced, citizen-focused, straight-news journalism with a taxpayer sensibility.
The Franklin News Foundation connects taxpayers to issues that directly impact them through fact-based, accountability-focused journalism that helps Americans to better understand government and how it serves the people.
We do this by delivering nonpartisan reporting to taxpayers through their preferred medium. We offer platforms at the local, state, and national levels:
- The Center Square: A national newswire service covering all 50 states and the federal government that provides local media outlets with free original, straight-news articles every day - all held to the highest editorial standards
- Chalkboard News: An education-focused platform that reports on K-12 education stories, while inviting all readers to serve as a stakeholder in guiding the next generation of American citizens
- Illinois Radio Network: A state radio network delivering a weekly digest of the nation’s most impactful and pressing news
- America’s Talking Network: A podcasting platform composed of dozens of programs, allowing listeners to hear about statewide and national issues, as well as civil debate and commentary
- Advanced Digital Media: A video production company providing a front-row seat to unedited, unaltered political discussions
Our journalists highlight the presence and absence of fiscal responsibility in government through reporting that is objective. We deliver this work with accuracy, velocity, and frequency throughout the daily news cycle. We reposit this news on our sites, but also share it broadly across the United States through a sophisticated approach to distribution. By producing highly consumable news and broadly distributing that news, we are shining a light on public policies nationwide that otherwise would be underreported. Franklin News Foundation’s coverage has led to government investigations, national and state-legislative policy changes, and has prompted regulatory reforms.
