Newswell
Newswell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at Arizona State University that acquires and operates a network of more than 15 local newsrooms across California and Chicago, providing shared back-end operations, business strategy, fundraising, and professional training while local journalists retain editorial control.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2025
- HeadquartersPhoenix, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Newswell does
Newswell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at Arizona State University as part of ASU Media Enterprise. It acquires and operates a network of more than 15 local newsrooms across California and the Chicago metropolitan area, including Times of San Diego, Stocktonia, Santa Barbara News-Press, and four Chicago-area titles (Austin Weekly News, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Forest Park Review, and Wednesday Journal). The organization provides back-end operations, business strategy, administrative support, fundraising, and professional training to these newsrooms while local journalists retain editorial control; this shared-services model is positioned as a sustainability solution for outlets that have struggled under traditional for-profit ownership or in bankruptcy.
The product surface spans digital news publishing platforms, email newsletters distributed via Mailchimp, a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND 4.0) content republication service, and Tiempos de San Diego, a daily Spanish-language offering delivered via WhatsApp. Newswell also operates programmatic offerings including the Sara Miller McCune News-Press Summer Fellows (a paid 12-week fellowship), a multi-newsroom internship program tied to ASU's Walter Cronkite School, and the invite-only National Journalism + AI Accelerator held in partnership with the Knight Center for the Future of News. Technology integrations are largely off-the-shelf: Stripe for donation processing, Mailchimp for newsletters, and the Freestar programmatic ad network for advertising revenue.
The revenue model is diversified across tax-deductible individual donations, recurring memberships, major gifts from individuals and foundations, sponsorships, and paid advertising. Services are provided to newsrooms at no cost consistent with the nonprofit mission. Philanthropic support is anchored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (which committed $10.5M to the related Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU), Arnold Ventures, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, with ASU Enterprise Partners providing institutional shared services. Distribution is multi-channel across owned websites, email, social platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads, YouTube), and the WhatsApp channel.
Newswell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Newswell
- Legal name
- NEWSWELL
- Website
- https://asunewswell.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2025
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Newswell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at Arizona State University that acquires and operates a network of more than 15 local newsrooms across California and Chicago, providing shared back-end operations, business strategy, fundraising, and professional training while local journalists retain editorial control.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Newswell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local News Publishing
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (51311), Newspaper Publishers (513110)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)
Keywords
Where Newswell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Phoenix
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Newswell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting local journalism. 100% of donations go to newsroom reporting, staff and local coverage.
- Membership Programs: Community newsroom membership programs where supporters receive benefits in exchange for recurring contributions
- Major Donations: Significant gifts from individuals and entities including foundations and corporate donors
- Sponsorships: Paid sponsorships to support specific reporting or events
- Paid Advertising: Advertising revenue through Freestar ad network partnerships on NEWSWELL sites
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Newswell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NEWSWELL acquires, relaunches, and supports local news outlets, providing back-end operations, business strategy, administrative support, and technology infrastructure while local journalists maintain editorial control. Part of Arizona State University Media Enterprise, it runs a network of 15+ local newsrooms across California and Chicago. The organization funds operations through individual donations, memberships, major foundation gifts, sponsorships, and paid advertising.
Product overview
NEWSWELL is a nonprofit organization that operates as a network and support structure for local news rather than a traditional technology product company. It provides back-end operations, business strategies, comprehensive wraparound services, business planning and professional training to help local news sites become or remain sustainable. The core offering (NEWSWELL) supports a network of local newsrooms including Times of San Diego, Stocktonia, Santa Barbara News-Press, and NEWSWELL Chicago (Austin Weekly News, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Forest Park Review, Wednesday Journal). The portfolio also includes programs like the Sara Miller McCune News-Press Summer Fellows, NEWSWELL Internship Program, and the National Journalism + AI Accelerator. Content republication services allow other outlets to redistribute NEWSWELL content under Creative Commons licensing. Tiempos de San Diego extends coverage via WhatsApp in Spanish. Together, these form a support-network model where local journalists lead their newsrooms and NEWSWELL provides administrative, strategic, and operational backing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tiempos de San Diego: Spanish-language news offering launched by Times of San Diego, delivered daily via WhatsApp for Spanish-speaking readers in the San Diego region.
- Sara Miller McCune News-Press Summer Fellows
Products and services
- Times of San Diego
- Stocktonia
- Santa Barbara News-Press
- NEWSWELL Chicago Network
- Tiempos de San Diego
- Sara Miller McCune News-Press Summer Fellows Program
- NEWSWELL Internship Program
- National Journalism + AI Accelerator
- NEWSWELL Content Republication Service Free content republication service allowing other outlets to republish NEWSWELL content (in print or online) under Creative Commons License BY-NC-ND 4.0, subject to attribution requirements and guidelines including crediting the appropriate NEWSWELL property, authors, and co-reporting partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Times of San Diego grew from 1 employee to 10-person newsroom
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Newswell
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Newswell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Newswell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Knight Center for the Future of NewscoreCo-hosts the National Journalism + AI Accelerator with NEWSWELL. Anchored by three dynamic labs focused on journalism innovation and transformation.
- Santa Barbara Historical MuseumflagshipAcquired physical archives of the Santa Barbara News-Press. NEWSWELL donated digital archives to the museum as part of preserving local journalism history.
- Arizona State UniversitycoreNEWSWELL is headquartered at ASU as part of the ASU Media Enterprise. This partnership provides institutional backing, access to academic resources, student talent pipeline through the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and innovation infrastructure including the Knight Center for the Future of News.
- Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass CommunicationcoreProvides educational programs, professional development, student internships, and talent pipeline for NEWSWELL newsrooms. Students gain hands-on experience while supporting local journalism.
- CalMattersflagshipNonpartisan nonprofit news organization focused on government accountability. NEWSWELL collaborates on reporting projects, joint events, and coordinated fundraising efforts. CalMatters provides statewide coverage that frees local reporters to focus on their communities.
- American Journalism ProjectflagshipNonprofit that invests in local news sustainability. Their Product & AI Studio helps newsrooms explore smart application of AI. They conducted community listening surveys and have partnered on the National Journalism + AI Accelerator.
- Report for AmericacoreJournalism placement program that places reporters in local newsrooms. Partnered on internship programs with colleges and universities, including placing Emma Bradford as Report for America intern at Austin Weekly News and Forest Park Review.
- News Revenue HubcoreHelps news organizations develop sustainable revenue models. Partnered with Times of San Diego on email newsletter redesign and audience engagement strategies.
- FT StrategiescorePartner for the National Journalism + AI Accelerator, bringing expertise in journalism sustainability and transformation.
- Lenfest Institute for JournalismcorePartner for the National Journalism + AI Accelerator, focused on local news sustainability and innovation.
- Hack/HackerscorePartner for the National Journalism + AI Accelerator, bringing journalist and technologist community together.
- News Product AlliancecorePartner for the National Journalism + AI Accelerator, focused on news product innovation.
- Pew Research CentercorePartner for the National Journalism + AI Accelerator, providing research expertise on journalism and media trends.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Newswell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lenfest Institute for Journalism: Philadelphia-based nonprofit that invests in and supports local journalism through the Philadelphia Inquirer and other newsrooms. A NEWSWELL partner on the AI Accelerator and a comparable sustainability-focused organization in the journalism philanthropy space.
- Report for America: National service program that places emerging journalists in local newsrooms. A NEWSWELL partner that shares a focus on resourcing understaffed local news operations and creating talent pipelines into community journalism.
- VTDigger: Vermont-based nonprofit digital news outlet covering state government and local communities. Comparable in mission (local accountability journalism), funding mix (donations + memberships), and operational model to NEWSWELL's newsrooms.
- American Journalism Project: Nonprofit that invests in and supports local news startups across the U.S. Operates a similar 'wraparound support' model for emerging newsrooms and is a direct strategic partner of NEWSWELL, making it the closest comparable in mission and structure.
- The 19th News: Nonprofit newsroom covering gender, politics, and policy. Comparable as a recently founded 501(c)(3) news organization built on donor and major-gift funding, with a focus on underrepresented communities.
- CalMatters: Nonpartisan nonprofit news organization focused on California government accountability and a direct NEWSWELL partner. Comparable as a state/regional nonprofit news outlet with donor and major-gift revenue and editorial independence.
- Chalkbeat: Nonprofit news organization covering education policy at the local and state level. Comparable in nonprofit model, multi-city footprint, philanthropic backing, and digital-first distribution.
Broad incumbents
- The Texas Tribune: Established nonprofit statewide news organization supported by major donations, memberships, and events. A leading example of the nonprofit news model that NEWSWELL's local-network approach parallels at a smaller scale.
- ProPublica: Largest U.S. nonprofit investigative newsroom. Comparable business model (501(c)(3) news org funded primarily by donations), but operates at national scope rather than local/network focus like NEWSWELL.
Regional players
- Block Club Chicago: Nonprofit local Chicago news outlet funded by reader donations. Operates in the same Chicago metro as NEWSWELL's Chicago network and is comparable in audience, donor model, and neighborhood-news focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Newswell social profiles
Digital presenceNewswell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Newswell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Newswell subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Newswell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Newswell M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Newswell
What does Newswell do?
NEWSWELL acquires, relaunches, and supports local news outlets, providing back-end operations, business strategy, administrative support, and technology infrastructure while local journalists maintain editorial control. Part of Arizona State University Media Enterprise, it runs a network of 15+ local newsrooms across California and Chicago. The organization funds operations through individual donations, memberships, major foundation gifts, sponsorships, and paid advertising.
Is Newswell a public or private company?
Newswell is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Newswell founded?
Newswell was founded in 2025. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Newswell based?
Newswell is headquartered in Phoenix, United States, in the North America region.
How does Newswell make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are membership Programs, major Donations, sponsorships and paid Advertising.
Who are Newswell's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Report for America, VTDigger, American Journalism Project, The 19th News, CalMatters and Chalkbeat. Broad incumbents are The Texas Tribune and ProPublica. Block Club Chicago is listed as a regional player.
Does Newswell have an API?
No public API is recorded for Newswell.
What industry is Newswell in?
Newswell's product category is Local News Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAF, Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAJADAA, National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 51311 and its SIC code is 2711.