Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom operated by The Philadelphia Inquirer in association with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletter.
By Christopher Baxter of Spotlight PA
Big stories will shape Pennsylvania’s future next year.
With a new administration in the governor’s office and a shift in power in the state legislature, important policy decisions that affect all of our lives could lie ahead. But whatever the issue, party or politician, Spotlight PA will never stop demanding truth and accountability.
So as you ponder the causes and organizations to support this year, I urge you to invest in quality journalism that demands truth, holds leaders accountable, and gets results. And there is no better time for this than today, Giving Tuesday, or as we call it, Giving News Day.
If you’re unfamiliar with our work, Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom covering the Harrisburg State Capitol and pressing national issues. We’re the largest statewide newsroom in Pennsylvania, and we’re also the most unique.
We do not endorse candidates, do not take political positions, do not identify with any political party or ideology, and do not publish opinions or editorial content. But we stand for certain universal values:
- We believe that the more people who know how our government works and how they can participate, including the more people who vote, the stronger our state will be.
- We believe that we, the taxpayers, have a right to know how our government spends our money.
- We believe our government should be open and transparent with records and information about what it is doing on our behalf and how well it is doing.
- We believe those privileged to represent Pennsylvania in every political forum should act honestly, ethically and legally.
- And we believe that free and unrestricted investigative and public service journalism is a fundamental pillar of a strong state, country and democracy.
At Spotlight PA, we make our decisions about what stories to write not based on how many views they get or how sensational they might be. We put Pennsylvania’s good first, delivering deep, contextual stories you won’t find anywhere else.
That’s why we make our entire journalism available free of charge as a public service. In addition to publishing our articles on our website, spotterpa.org, we share our work with over 90 community news outlets across the state, including the one you’re reading right now.
Where do we get the time and resources to do such important work? Thanks to you.
Our journalism and the future of Spotlight PA depend on your support. Make a tax-deductible gift of any amount at spotlightpa.org/donate and as a special bonus: all contributions will be TRIPLED thanks to a fitting gift from a generous donor.
At Spotlight PA, we’re taking journalism back to its roots – a public service that fights for you in the halls of power, pursues your taxpayer dollars and drives positive change. This is journalism worth supporting and I hope I can count on you to ensure Spotlight PA continues to thrive in 2023. Please consider making a year-end gift now at spotlightpa.org/donate. If you would like to donate by check, please send it to: Spotlight PA, 228 Walnut St., #11728, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728.
Christopher Baxter is Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Spotlight PA, an independent, non-partisan newsroom based in Harrisburg. Email him at [email protected]. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you committed to responsible journalism that gets results.