What Democracy Now does

Democracy Now! Productions Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, independent global news organization founded in 1996 by Amy Goodman and co-host Juan Gonzalez, headquartered in New York City. It produces a flagship daily news program covering underreported global events, social movements, human rights, and U.S. politics, distributed through a network of approximately 1,500 radio and television partner stations across the United States and through direct digital channels (website, iPhone and Android apps, podcast/RSS, and a Spanish-language edition). The organization operates on an audience-supported model, explicitly declining advertising, underwriting, and government funding to preserve editorial independence. Revenue is generated primarily through viewer and listener donations (with tiered asks from $5 to $2,000+, the highest tier including experiential perks such as brunch with Amy Goodman and a studio tour), supplemented by a branded gift catalog (hats, mugs, hoodies, bumper stickers, books priced $5–$100+) and, as of 2026, revenue from a self-distributed documentary ("Steal This Story, Please!") in nationwide theatrical release.

The product surface is a multi-platform news distribution system: the core daily broadcast, web-exclusive interviews and investigations, a Daily Digest email newsletter, podcast and RSS distribution, and mobile applications on iOS and Android. Underlying technology is a digital news platform with video and audio streaming, podcast hosting, and mobile delivery — no proprietary AI/ML features are disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led: content is amplified through grassroots pro-Democracy groups, speaking events, and screenings, with marketing executed across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Bluesky. The customer base is a diffuse community of individual supporters (no enterprise customers or advertisers) who finance editorial that positions itself as adversarial to corporate and government power.

Name

Democracy Now

Legal name

Democracy Now! Productions Inc.

Website

https://democracynow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Democracy Now! is a 501(c)3 independent news organization founded in 1996 that produces a daily global news program distributed via ~1,500 U.S. radio/TV stations and digital platforms, funded entirely by viewer and listener donations and supported by a diffuse community of individual supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent News Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

National Broadcast News Networks (MPABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH), News & Politics Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAG)

Keywords

• Independent news broadcasting
• Nonprofit journalism
• Daily news program
• Multimedia news distribution
• Viewer supported media

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Viewer and Listener Donations: Primary revenue stream from contributions by viewers and listeners. Democracy Now! is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that does not accept funding from advertising, underwriting, or government agencies. The organization emphasizes its independence from corporate sponsorship.
2. Gift Catalog Sales: Merchandise sales including hats, mugs, books, bumper stickers, hoodies, and travel mugs priced from $5 to $100+.
3. Documentary Revenue: Self-distributed documentary 'Steal This Story, Please!' generating revenue through theatrical screenings and partnerships with grassroots organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Democracy Now! produces a flagship daily independent global news program featuring headline news, in-depth segments, and live broadcasts covering social movements, politics, and global events. The organization distributes this programming across radio, television, web, mobile, and podcast channels, supplemented by a gift catalog selling branded merchandise and books, and original documentary films.

Product overview

Democracy Now! is an independent global news organization offering a multi-platform news distribution system. The core product is the Daily Show, a flagship daily news program distributed across television, radio, and digital channels. Supporting the core broadcast are Web Exclusives (online-only interviews and investigative pieces), a Daily Digest email newsletter, podcast and RSS distribution, and mobile applications for Android and iPhone. The organization also operates a Gift Catalog selling branded merchandise (hats, mugs, stickers, hoodies) and publishes books authored by Amy Goodman. A notable recent addition is the documentary "Steal This Story, Please!" chronicling the organization's history. Democracy Now! maintains a Spanish-language edition and distributes content through approximately 1,500 radio and television partner stations. The organization operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit funded primarily through viewer and listener contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Democracy Now! Daily Show Flagship daily independent global news program featuring headline news, in-depth segments, and live broadcasts covering social movements, politics, and global events for viewers and listeners seeking independent journalism.
• Democracy Now! Gift Catalog Merchandise store offering branded items including hats, mugs, bumper stickers, hoodies, books, and travel mugs priced from $5 to $100+, with special donor thank-you gifts such as brunch with Amy Goodman for $2,000+ donors.
• Steal This Story, Please! Documentary Documentary chronicling 30 years of independent adversarial journalism at Democracy Now!, directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, generating revenue through theatrical screenings and grassroots partnerships.
• The Silenced Majority (Signed Paperback) 2012 New York Times bestseller book by Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan, featuring stories of uprisings, occupations, resistance and hope, sold via the Democracy Now! gift catalog as a signed paperback for $25.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Radio and Television Stations (1,500+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 February 2026Approximately 1,500 radio and television stations across the United States carry Democracy Now! programming, forming the core distribution network for the news organization's daily broadcasts.
• Grassroots Pro-Democracy GroupscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 February 2026Partnership with grassroots pro-Democracy groups across the United States to promote independent media and documentary screenings, particularly in the context of elimination of public broadcasting funding and ongoing legal attacks on news organizations.
• IFC CenterflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 February 2026Opening venue for theatrical premiere of documentary 'Steal This Story, Please!' on April 10 in New York City, launching the nationwide theatrical tour.
• Tia Lessin and Carl Deal (Filmmakers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Oscar-nominated filmmakers who directed and self-distributed the documentary 'Steal This Story, Please!' about Amy Goodman and Democracy Now!. The documentary has won multiple audience and jury awards at major festivals.
• Karen Ranucci, Diana Cohn, Caren Spruch (Producers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Producers of the documentary 'Steal This Story, Please!' including Karen Ranucci, Diana Cohn, and Caren Spruch.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Truthout: Nonprofit online news organization covering social justice, environmental, and political issues funded by reader donations. Comparable to Democracy Now! in nonprofit model, progressive editorial stance, and multi-platform digital publishing approach.
• The Nation: Long-running progressive independent magazine and digital news outlet covering politics, culture, and investigative reporting. Similar to Democracy Now! in ideological positioning, donor/subscription-supported model, and 30+ year editorial legacy.
• ProPublica: Leading investigative nonprofit newsroom funded primarily by philanthropic donations, operating with a multi-platform distribution model (web, podcasts, partnerships with legacy outlets). Comparable to Democracy Now! in nonprofit funding model, editorial independence, and multi-platform audience development strategy.
• Mother Jones: Donor-supported nonprofit investigative news magazine producing original reporting on politics, environment, and social justice. Directly comparable to Democracy Now! as a 501(c)3-funded progressive journalism outlet with multi-platform editorial coverage.
• The Intercept: Nonprofit, donor-funded investigative news organization producing daily original journalism and podcasts on national security, politics, and civil liberties. Directly comparable to Democracy Now! as an independent nonprofit news outlet positioned against corporate media, relying on reader contributions rather than advertising.
• Common Dreams: Reader-funded nonprofit news outlet covering progressive politics, environment, and social movements. Comparable as an independent nonprofit digital news organization dependent on donor contributions with no advertising revenue.
• Pacifica Network: Nonprofit community radio network that historically originated and continues to carry Democracy Now! programming across its affiliate stations. Comparable as a listener-supported independent nonprofit broadcaster with overlapping distribution relationships.

Emerging players

• The Real News Network: Independent nonprofit video news outlet producing daily current-affairs and investigative programming on social justice topics. Comparable as a donor-funded progressive video-first news organization with overlap to Democracy Now!'s editorial coverage and digital distribution.
• The Young Turks (TYT): Progressive digital-first news and commentary network producing daily video programming distributed via YouTube, podcasts, and streaming. Comparable as an independent left-leaning news outlet pursuing a younger digital audience, contrasting Democracy Now!'s broadcast-heavy distribution.

Broad incumbents

• PBS NewsHour: Flagship national nightly news broadcast on public television covering politics and current affairs with a broader editorial mandate. Comparable as a nationally distributed broadcast news program facing similar 'elimination of public broadcasting funding' headwinds noted in Democracy Now!'s source data.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/democracynow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/democracynow
• Facebookfacebook.com/democracynow
• Instagraminstagram.com/democracynow
• TikToktiktok.com/@democracynow.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/democracy-now-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Democracy Now