The Austin Monitor

What The Austin Monitor does

The Austin Monitor was a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonpartisan nonprofit local news organization based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to reporting on the intersection of local government and the community across City Hall, Travis County, development, transportation, education, environment, public safety, and elections. Formally incorporated as a nonprofit in 2013, it traced its editorial lineage to the mid-1990s under the In Fact / In Fact Daily banner. The organization operated a digital news platform built on Newspack, supported a categorized searchable archive, and distributed the Austin, Monitored email newsletter; in November 2021 it removed its paywall to become a free, community-supported publication, reaching nearly 150,000 readers in the first year. The Monitor ceased independent publishing on October 28, 2025, transitioning into the Austin Current, a new nonprofit local newsroom launched on November 10, 2025 under the Texas Tribune following its May 2025 acquisition.

Name

The Austin Monitor

Legal name

Austin Monitor

Website

https://www.austinmonitor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Austin Monitor was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan local news outlet covering Austin and Travis County government for the Central Texas community via a Newspack website, newsletter, and searchable archive before transitioning into the Tribune-backed Austin Current in late 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Digital News

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

akta.pro primary industry

Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)

Keywords

• Nonprofit journalism
• Local government reporting
• Community news coverage
• Civic accountability reporting
• Newsletter publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership: Relies on member-donors and major donors including individuals at various contribution levels ($25,000+, $1,000-$24,999, $100-$999, and up to $99). Multi-year supporters are part of the Community Leadership Circle.
2. Sponsorships: Business sponsors and members support the organization. Newsletter sponsors such as Austin Energy supported specific newsletters. Sponsors are subject to editorial separation rules.
3. Foundation Grants: Relies on support from philanthropies and foundations. Major donors include Dan & Lisa Graham, John Thornton, Nav Sooch, Perry Lorenz, and Tyson Tuttle at the highest level.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Austin Monitor is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit local news organization that publishes original reporting on Austin and Central Texas city government, Travis County, development, transportation, education, environment, public safety, and elections. The publication operated as a free, community-supported digital news outlet distributed through its website, email newsletter (Austin, Monitored), and a searchable archive after removing its paywall in late 2021.

Product overview

The Austin Monitor was a single-product nonprofit news organization offering local government reporting and a newsletter. The core product was its investigative and accountability-focused news coverage of Austin and Central Texas local government. The organization transitioned in October-November 2025, with its archive preserved and its mission continuing through Austin Current (new daily newsroom powered by Texas Tribune) and the Austin Signal (audio news show in partnership with KUT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Austin Monitor News Coverage A free, community-supported digital news publication delivering in-depth reporting on critical local government decisions and civic issues for Austin and Central Texas residents.
• Austin, Monitored Newsletter A free recurring email newsletter delivering curated local government and community news directly to subscribers.
• Austin Current The successor nonprofit local newsroom to Austin Monitor, providing expanded daily local government and community news coverage for Austin and Central Texas, operated as a publication of the Texas Tribune.
• Austin Signal Audio Show An audio news show produced in partnership with KUT News delivering local Austin journalism to radio audiences on KUT 90.5.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached nearly 150,000 new readers after removing paywall in first year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas TribunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025The Austin Monitor was acquired by the Texas Tribune in May 2025. This strategic acquisition combined the Monitor's deep roots in Austin reporting with the Tribune's award-winning journalism and infrastructure. The partnership led to the creation of the Austin Current, a new expanded local newsroom launched in fall 2025.
• Austin EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustin Energy sponsored the Austin, Monitored newsletter as part of their 'Value of Public Power' marketing initiative. The sponsorship supported newsletter distribution while maintaining editorial independence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MLK50: Justice Through Journalism: Nonprofit local news outlet in Memphis, Tennessee focused on economic and racial justice issues. Comparable to Austin Monitor as a similarly scaled nonprofit digital local newsroom with donor funding and a mission-driven editorial focus.
• CalMatters: California statewide nonprofit news organization covering policy and government. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit digital newsroom with donor/grant funding focused on government accountability at the state and local interface.
• San Antonio Report: Texas-based nonprofit digital news outlet covering San Antonio civic and government affairs, with a donor-supported model similar to Austin Monitor. Closely comparable as a regional nonprofit local newsroom in the same state with the same mission and funding structure.
• The Mendocino Voice: Small nonprofit digital local news outlet covering Mendocino County, California. Comparable to Austin Monitor as a similarly scaled community-supported nonprofit local newsroom with a small staff and donor-driven funding model.
• Block Club Chicago: Nonprofit digital local news outlet covering Chicago neighborhood-level civic news. Directly comparable to Austin Monitor as a donor-supported nonprofit local newsroom producing free, community-funded civic journalism in a single metro market.
• Voice of San Diego: Pioneering nonprofit investigative local news outlet covering San Diego civic affairs. Comparable to Austin Monitor as a donor-supported nonprofit digital newsroom focused on local government accountability journalism with similar revenue streams and beat structure.
• The Connecticut Mirror: Nonprofit statewide digital news outlet covering Connecticut government and policy. Comparable to Austin Monitor as a donor-funded nonprofit local/state newsroom with a similar beat focus on government accountability and policy coverage.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Tribune: Texas-based nonprofit statewide news organization that acquired the Austin Monitor in May 2025 and now operates the Austin Current. Comparable as a larger, well-funded nonprofit newsroom covering Texas civic and policy issues, though operating at statewide rather than purely local scope.
• KUT 90.5 (Austin NPR): Austin's public radio station and NPR affiliate, partner with the Austin Monitor on the 'Austin Signal' audio show. Comparable as a major local civic news provider serving Austin with overlapping coverage of city government, public safety, and community issues, though operating in broadcast rather than digital format.
• Austin American-Statesman: Long-established for-profit daily newspaper covering Austin and Central Texas local government, development, and community news. Directly comparable as the dominant legacy local news outlet serving the same geographic market and beats (City Hall, Travis County, development).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/austinmonitor
• Facebookfacebook.com/AustinMonitor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Austin Monitor