Editorial Independence

We subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News.

The Institute for Public Service Reporting retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.

We maintain a rigid firewall between us and the University of Memphis, our leading supporter. Though we are a semi-autonomous branch of the U of M and our journalists are employees of the university, we maintain strict editorial independence.

We operate under a memorandum of understanding, signed by University President David Rudd, that states in part, “It is understood that in order to ensure the free and independent press that is so vital to preserving our American democratic ideals, that all editorial decisions made by IPSR, its director and staff in conjunction with this agreement will be free of any control, undue influence, threats or promises by the University, its administration, the state of Tennessee, or any other persons.’’

Additionally, our journalists are members of the faculty, each bearing the title “Distinguished Journalist in Residence,’’ each enjoying the full measure of academic freedom to pursue research and reporting.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

The Institute may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

Our organization will make public all donors who give a total of $1,000 or more per year. We will accept anonymous donations for general support only when it is clear that sufficient safeguards are in place ensuring that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.

Donor & Financial Transparency

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics and special projects. As an arm of a tax-exempt organizationthat operates as a public trust, we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.

Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.

We make public all revenue sources and donors who give $1,000 or more per year.

Additionally, we may disclose any and all donations in the body of a news article or in an editor’s note appended to the article when a donor materially appears as a subject or focus of that story.

As a nonprofit new organization, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities outside the University of Memphis, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our director, associate director and board of advisers to present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

The Institute reserves the right to return any donations as it sees fit.

Our Supporters

Fiscal Year 2022-23

$1,000-$4,9999

Paul and Phyllis Berz                                  

John A Bobango                                          

Julie Dichtel Byrd                                        

Kim Cherry

Tara and Scott Elliott                                  

Hyde Family Foundation                            

Susanne and Bruce Landau                       

Reverend Thomas Momberg      

Preserver Partners Foundation                

Martin Regan Jr.

Morgan Rose                                               

Otis L. Sanford                                             

Becky Wilson    

$5,000-$9,999

Gayle S. Rose                                               

$10,000-$19,999

Dr. Jeanne Jemison and Frank Jemison Jr.

WKNO

$20,000-$49,999

The GroundTruth Project

The Miami Foundation

Report for America

$50,000-$99,999

Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust

Proteus Fund

Urban Child Institute

$100,000 and above

The University of Memphis

Fiscal Year 2021-22

$1,000-$4,999

Paul and Phyllis Berz

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Tara and Scott Elliott

Roy B. Herron

The Benjamin L. Hooks Fund for Community Uplift

Katherine Hunninen

Knight Foundation

Bruce and Susanne Landau

Paul H. Morris

Daniel M. Norwood

Lucian T. Pera

J. Martin Regan Jr.

Report For America

Gayle S. Rose

Otis Sanford

Anne Stokes

Brice M. Timmons

Rebecca W. Wilson

Steven Wishnia

$5,000-$9,999

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Partner Fund (Knight Foundation, Meta Journalism
Project, and the Walton Family Foundation)

$10,000-$19,999

Dr. Jeanne and Frank Jemison, Jr.

NewsMatch 2021

$50,000-$99,999

Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust

Urban Child Institute

$100,000-$149,999

University of Memphis

Fiscal Year 2020-21

$1,000-$4,999

Dr. Jeanne and Frank Jemison, Jr.

Robert E. Loeb

Gayle S. Rose

$10,000-$19,999

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

$50,000-$99,999

Urban Child Institute

$200,000-$249,999

University of Memphis