Pro Publica Inc.

“Pro publica has its form 990 prepared by an outside accounting firm and has established the following review process to ensure that the information reported is complete and accurate. When the form 990 has been prepared, reviewed by the president and chief financial & administrative officer and is ready to be filed with the internal revenue service, it is submitted electronically to all members of pro publica's governing body for any comments prior to its submission. The governing body is provided with at least one week to review the prepared form 990 and provide their comments. Any comments are then grouped, summarized and provided to the audit committee for their review. Each issue is documented and addressed until the return is finalized and approved for filing.”

“Pro publica has a conflict of interest policy, which applies to all directors (board members), officers, and employees. Employees receive the conflict of interest policy at hire as a part of the employee handbook, for which employees must acknowledge receipt in writing. Employees, therefore, receive the policy and acknowledge receipt each time the employee handbook is revised. The policy is provided to new directors as a part of onboarding procedures. Disclosure of any conflicts is required at the time of onboarding or at any such time that a future conflict should arise. An interested person must disclose as soon as practicable to the secretary the existence of a potential conflict of interest and all material facts related to the conflict. If a director or officer is uncertain about whether a conflict exists, he/she must report the possible conflict in all cases in which a critical external observer might reasonably perceive a conflict to exist. The board committee will determine if a conflict of interest exists. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, the director or officer with whom the conflict pertains to is excluded from voting on the issue. He/she must leave the room and the other directors vote on the issue pertaining to that specific transaction. With respect to any board committee's discussion, decision, or actions involving transactions in which a director or officer has a conflict of interest, the minutes of the board committee meeting will reflect the board's deliberations and voting process. In case of an interested party who is not a director or officer, the president monitors and enforces the organization's compliance with its conflict of interest policy. If an employee has a conflict of interest, he/she cannot participate in the decision making of the conflicted transaction.”

“Salaries for the ceos are set by the compensation committee. The compensation committee uses the services of a law firm for guidance on matters of ceo compensation. The board reviews proposed compensation increases for the ceos in relation to their performance, rates of inflation, compensation practices and plans for other propublica employees, and comparable data. Comparable data may include information about journalism outlets as well as other not for profit organizations. Approved salary changes are documented in human resources files and require the signature of both the employee and the hr director. The board's consideration of this matter is also documented in the minutes of the executive session. This process was last completed in 2021. The compensation of the key employee and other officers are determined by the president. The president uses comparability data to review compensation. This process was last undertaken in 2021.”

“The organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code. The return is available on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the financial statements, conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation, form 990, form 1023, and by-laws are also available upon written request, and on the organization's website (www.propublica.org).”

“On jan. 6, 2021, a source shared with propublica thousands of videos that were publicly uploaded by rallygoers and insurrectionists to the social media site parler. (the videos had been archived by a programmer before the site was taken offline by its host.) nearly 50 members of propublica's reporting staff worked together to quickly publish an interactive timeline of more than 500 videos taken at or around the capitol, a collection that provided one of the most comprehensive historical records of the infamous day. Clips from the videos have been used by the fbi to identify and charge suspects, and in february, images from propublica's timeline were also used by house managers during the second impeachment trial of former president donald trump. In june, the senate homeland security and rules committees recommended reforms to the capitol police in a report that extensively cited propublica's coverage of the department's failures in preparing for and responding to the riot. In june, propublica reported that senior trump aides knew the "stop the steal" rally that preceded the attack on the capitol could get chaotic. We revealed how rally organizers fooled the capitol police and welcomed white supremacists to increase their crowd sizes, while white house officials worked to both contain and appease the rallygoers. Citing our report, the u.s. House of representatives select committee investigating the events of jan. 6 issued a subpoena to former white house chief of staff mark meadows, noting that there is "credible evidence" of meadows' involvement in events leading up to the attack on the capitol. This was the first of 20 subpoenas from the committee that cited our reporting. Far-reaching reforms (and a resignation) in florida program for injured newborns: in april 2021, our local reporting network partner the miami herald reported on florida's birth-related neurological injury compensation association, a program created to reduce doctors' malpractice bills. Parents of brain-damaged newborns lose their right to sue when they join the program, which instead offers them a one-time payment and promises to cover future medical expenses. Yet nica has frequently denied or delayed help for struggling families - sometimes spending tens of thousands more in legal fees fighting requests for benefits than it would have cost to help parents who depend on the program to care for their children. Hours after the initial story was published, florida's chief financial officer initiated an audit of the program that, months later, would validate many of our findings. By the end of april, florida lawmakers passed sweeping legislation to increase benefits and protections for nica families, including offering money for mental health services, adding a parent representative to the program's board of directors and distributing retroactive compensation of $150,000. The following day, the executive director of nica announced a host of additional reforms that went beyond those mandated by lawmakers. In june, florida gov. Ron desantis signed the new legislation, approving the most far-reaching reform in the program's history. In september, the program's executive director resigned after leading the organization for nearly two decades. Nica announced additional reforms later in the year, including dropping a much-despised policy requiring parents seeking therapy and medicine for their kids to try to get it first from medicaid, which can delay care by months. The board also voted unanimously to lobby the legislature to amend the nica law further to make even more reforms. Illinois lawmakers ban use of restraints and seclusion in public schools: in november 2019, propublica and the chicago tribune investigated illinois public schools' misuse of "isolated timeout" rooms, wherein children as young as five were sent to seclusion rooms alone, sometimes for hours on end. Our reporting prompted lawmakers to call for a national ban on the use of student seclusion ro”

“In april, propublica published an investigation into a home-loan program in missouri called property assessed clean energy, or pace, that lets borrowers finance energy-efficient home improvements, like solar panels and heating systems, by repaying their loans through their annual property tax bills. We reported that the program put dozens of borrowers, many in black neighborhoods, at risk of losing their homes due to the program's lack of effective oversight, which allowed private companies to charge high interest rates. Soon after, lawmakers in missouri began exploring ways to rein in the state's clean energy loan program and, in june, gov. Mike parson signed into law a measure to add consumer protections and oversight to programs that make such loans in the state. Reporting helps solve a 1983 murder in baltimore: in may 2021, propublica published a three-part tale about one doctor's pioneering effort to create what was effectively one of the first dna databases and how, decades later, baltimore police are using it to solve cold cases. Insights from the collection are reshaping conventional wisdom about rapists. Our reporter helped solve one of these cold cases when she asked baltimore police about a possible connection between serial rapist alphonso hill and the 1983 murder of a 21-year-old college student. In june, the baltimore county police department said that hill had confessed to raping and murdering the college student, as well as committing other crimes and rapes, after detectives informed him they had dna evidence and offered him immunity in exchange for his confession. Hill, who was already in prison for other rapes, will not be eligible for parole until 2047, when he would be 95. Wrongfully convicted man compensated with $1.4 million: in a 2017 partnership with vanity fair, we reported on the case of fred steese, a las vegas man who spent 21 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Despite his innocence, prosecutors demanded he agree to an alford plea - a deal that allows defendants to maintain their innocence while at the same time pleading guilty and accepting the status of a convicted felon. After our story, steese was granted a full pardon. Under a new nevada law that compensates exonerees for each year wrongfully spent in prison, in march 2021 steese received $1.35 million for his 18 years of imprisonment. Alaska attorney general resigns (again) after sexual misconduct exposed: in august 2020, propublica and the anchorage daily news published an investigation showing that alaska attorney general kevin clarkson sent hundreds of text messages to a younger state employee (at least 558 messages in march 2020 alone) inviting her to come to his home. Hours after we published our story, clarkson resigned. Clarkson was replaced by acting alaska attorney general ed sniffen, who resigned in january 2021 after propublica and the daily news began asking questions about allegations of sexual misconduct decades earlier with a 17-year-old girl. The state has also launched an investigation into the allegations against sniffen. Health insurance transparency mandated: in february 2019, propublica and partner npr news published an investigation documenting the hidden cash and gifts that health insurers pay to influence independent insurance brokers who advise employers on which insurance to choose for their staff. This influence ultimately helps determine the health coverage for about 150 million americans. The 2021 coronavirus relief bill, signed by president joe biden, included a mandate that brokers must disclose to employers how much they make from insurance carriers and vendors. New measures address racialized policing of sex work: in december 2020, propublica revealed that undercover operations in new york city aimed at arresting sex workers or their clients have led to numerous allegations of false arrest and sexual misconduct. We reported that new york police department officers who police the sex trade, driven by”

“In october 2020, propublica local reporting network partner the maine monitor investigated maine's use of court-appointed private attorneys to provide legal services to the poor. Maine is the only state that does not have a public defender system. Our investigation found that these attorneys lack oversight and have disproportionately high levels of professional misconduct and criminal convictions. In response, gov. Janet mills called for a bipartisan effort to reform maine's defense system and executive director john pelletier resigned from the maine commission on indigent legal services. In june 2021, reporters identified two defense lawyers who were on a list of attorneys eligible to take cases but who should have been ineligible due to their own criminal proceedings. One, a lawyer facing felony charges, was subsequently removed from service. In july 2021, mills signed a bill allotting $18.5 million in additional spending over the next two years to improve legal services for low-income residents. Youtube removes chinese propaganda videos: in june, propublica partnered with the new york times to investigate china's efforts to counter reports of the persecution of members of the uyghur community, an ethnic minority in northwest china. We reported that china was spreading propaganda videos of uyghurs denying abuses against their community. Our investigation found a pattern of similar language used in the videos, which appeared on twitter and youtube, indicating that they are part of an elaborate influence campaign by chinese officials to counter human rights concerns raised by foreign governments and corporations. In response, youtube took down many of the videos we identified. Rhode island votes to certify 911 call takers in cpr: in 2019, propublica local reporting network partner the public's radio published an investigation that revealed that poor training of rhode island's 911 call takers was resulting in unnecessary deaths. Our reporting had significant impact, including the replacement of the head of rhode island's 911 system, a review of procedures and training provided to 911 call takers, and lawmakers earmarking funds in their 2020 budget for training 911 call takers to provide cpr instruction (in an effort to counteract the lagging rates of cardiac arrest survival statewide). In may 2021, the rhode island house of representatives unanimously approved a bill mandating that operators receive certification in emergency medical dispatch and provide cpr instructions and other emergency medical directions to callers. Federal agency closes legal loophole: in october 2019, propublica co-published an investigation with ard german tv into pharmaceutical companies luring mexicans across the u.s. Border on temporary visas to donate blood plasma. While other nations limit the frequency of paid plasma donations out of concern for donor health, the u.s. Has comparatively loose standards. Whereas the u.s. Caps donations at 104 a year, europe's recommended frequency is 33 times per year and, in mexico, selling plasma is banned entirely. In june 2021, u.s. Customs and border protection closed a legal loophole that allowed u.s.-based blood plasma companies to harvest plasma from thousands of mexicans a day. Telegram app removes fraudster chat rooms: in july, propublica investigated what might turn out to be the biggest fraud wave in u.s. History: bogus claims for unemployment insurance benefits filed during the covid-19 pandemic. Our reporting revealed that much of the fraud was organized - in the u.s. And abroad - and enabled by a burgeoning online infrastructure of chat rooms, computer algorithms and human labor farms. On the messaging app telegram, fraudsters trade tips and share step-by-step guides, or "sauces," on how to exploit aging or obsolete state unemployment it systems. Days after we published the story, telegram removed several "secret sauce" chats mentioned in our reporting. California levies fine on oil company: in march”

“In february 2021, the asbury park press published an investigation in partnership with propublica's local reporting network about how new jersey police officers collect millions of dollars by exploiting their union contracts for additional retirement benefits beyond their already-generous pensions. Problems included a retired officer who received a 14-karat solid gold badge worth $7,000, as well as more common benefit payouts such as cashing in unused sick days, well-paid "extra duty" work and end-of-career payments. All these perks come at a major cost to new jersey taxpayers. As of 2019, municipalities across the state were in debt for at least $492 million for unused sick time and vacation days. We reported that a state law, passed in 2010, meant to stop huge retirement payouts for unused sick days was not being followed. In march 2021, new jersey's acting state comptroller released a report examining one town that deemed the types of payments reported by propublica illegal. In a follow-up story, propublica identified 25 towns making such payments. Some said they would cease the practice and may require officers to repay the money. As audit uncovers (more) missing money from california regulatory agency, its president resigns: in december 2020, propublica local reporting network partner bay city news published a story about whistleblower alice stebbins, a former executive director of the california public utilities commission, which regulates privately owned public utilities. Stebbins was fired in 2020 after she reported $200 million that was allegedly missing from accounts meant to fund programs for the state's blind, deaf and poor. Our reporting uncovered flaws in the state personnel board investigation that led to her dismissal. A february 2021 audit conducted by the california department of finance echoed propublica's reporting, finding cpuc's accounting to be "inaccurate and incomplete." in october, marybel batjer announced her resignation as the president of the california public utilities commission, less than one year into a six-year term. Batjer had purportedly spearheaded the termination of stebbins, and under her leadership the agency struggled to contend with power grid issues and the repeated deadly wildfires caused by the state's largest utility, pacific gas & electric. Booster seat safety law introduced to protect children in car crashes: in february 2020, propublica published an investigation demonstrating that the child car-seat maker evenflo had put marketing above the safety of children using their "big kid" booster seats - the company's own side-impact testing footage illustrated the dangers. Our reporting revealed the corporate obliviousness and regulatory failures that allowed the seats to be sold, even after serious injuries to children, including paralysis, resulted. In july 2021, a group of 18 state attorneys general signed a letter to transportation secretary pete buttigieg criticizing the national highway traffic safety administration for failing to mandate side-impact tests for children's car seats, despite a law requiring the agency to protect kids in such collisions. In october 2021, members of congress introduced the booster seat safety act, which would establish the most sweeping safety rules for booster seats in more than two decades. The proposed law would force the national highway traffic safety administration to create mandatory tests for booster seats that mimic the forces of side-impact crashes, issue guidelines for crash test dummies, establish a minimum height requirement for the use of booster seats and mandate labeling for the proper use of car and booster seats. The new bill has the support of the american academy of pediatrics, prominent auto insurers, insurance industry groups and more than 10 consumer safety organizations. Congress investigates lender responsible for sending ppp loans to fake companies: in may 2021, propublica reported that an online lending platform called kab”

“A 2011 propublica investigation, published in partnership with columbia university's stabile center for investigative journalism, examined a flawed education department program for deciding whether severely disabled students qualify for having their student loans forgiven. The program was leaving many borrowers facing financial hardship from federal student loans when they were legally entitled to have them dismissed. In august 2021, the education department announced that under a new regulation, the department will automatically forgive the debt of borrowers who the social security administration has identified as severely disabled, including $5.8 billion in existing student loans that left many vulnerable borrowers mired in debt. Unscientific rule on nyc school closures reversed: in april 2021, propublica reported on an unscientific new york city rule that ordered the closure of public schools if testing found two positive covid-19 results, regardless of the school's size and even if the cases were apparently unlinked. Propublica contacted 10 epidemiologists and physicians, nearly all of whom said the policy didn't make sense. Days after the story's publication, then-mayor bill de blasio announced an end to the city's rule. Oregon lawmakers seek to reverse timber tax cuts: in 2020, propublica local reporting network partner oregon public broadcasting joined with the oregonian to investigate the timber industry, reporting on how the state's preferential treatment for wealthy corporations has had detrimental effects on both the local economy and the environment. Among other findings, the reporting team revealed that the tax-funded oregon forest resources institute worked to discredit academic research and acted as a lobbying and public relations arm for the timber industry. In february 2021, oregon's lawmakers filed dozens of bills aimed at reversing decades-old timber tax cuts that deprived counties of billions of dollars, as well as seeking to eliminate the quasi-governmental ofri. This was the state's most consequential session for forest policy and will potentially funnel large sums of money back into local governments for schools, infrastructure and public safety needs that hadn't been adequately funded for years under the previous policies. Additionally, in july, an audit prompted by our investigation found that ofri misled the public by presenting a biased view of forestry favoring the timber industry and may have violated state law. State audit finds officials failed to track funds for improving jails: in 2019, propublica and the sacramento bee, a propublica local reporting network partner, published a series of investigations that exposed how california's efforts to reduce the population of state prisons have led to overcrowded, dangerous and increasingly deadly conditions in its county jails. Shortly after our reporting, state sen. Sydney kamlager requested that the state auditor's office conduct its own investigation. In march the auditor released its report, which found that the county commissions that monitor the california board of state and community corrections failed to adequately track billions of dollars intended for improving county lockups and rehabilitating offenders. Feds investigate lender that sued borrowers during pandemic: in 2020, propublica and the texas tribune investigated oportun inc., a silicon valley-based installment lender that caters to latino immigrants, and found that it was continuing to sue borrowers even after they lost jobs because of the pandemic. In march 2021 we reported that the consumer financial protection bureau launched a federal investigation of the company in response to our reporting. Oportun denied wrongdoing. Federal election commission inspector general calls for internal ethics review: in october 2020, propublica reported that a top federal election commission official, whose division regulates campaign cash, had undisclosed ties to trump and his 2016 campaign attorney,”

“In 2020, propublica published a series showing that meat companies' mismanagement of the pandemic and the federal government's failure to ensure that plants took appropriate precautions have contributed to the pandemic's dramatic toll on meatpacking workers and their communities. In february 2021, the house select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis announced an investigation into jbs, smithfield foods and tyson foods, three of the nation's largest meat companies, which rep. James clyburn said had "refused to take basic precautions to protect their workers and had "shown a callous disregard for workers' health." the companies said that they responded appropriately to the pandemic. The subcommittee is also scrutinizing the government's shortcomings in protecting meatpacking workers. South carolina governor, legislators act to reform magistrate judge system: in november 2019, charleston's post and courier, a local reporting network partner, exposed how south carolina's system for selecting magistrate judges is rife with politics and flawed oversight, providing fertile ground for incompetence and corruption on the bench. The investigation found that magistrates, who handle hundreds of thousands of lower court cases a year, are often politically connected insiders, most of whom have never practiced law. In january 2021, south carolina lawmakers prioritized their scrutiny of local magistrate judges. More than a half-dozen pre-filed bipartisan bills targeting magistrate reforms received endorsements in interviews with key members of the 23-person state senate judiciary committee. (the committee reviews any proposal before a floor vote.) in addition, gov. Henry mcmaster included magistrate reform in his annual state of the state address, laying out a plan to require all magistrates to be practicing lawyers with a clean record. Arkansas pushes to revoke jail time statute for falling behind on rent: in october 2020, propublica and the arkansas nonprofit news network reported on a state law that effectively criminalizes poverty by allowing landlords to seek criminal charges - which can result in jail time - for tenants who fall even a single day behind on rent and do not vacate a property within 10 days. While other states paused evictions during the height of the pandemic in accordance with the centers for disease control and prevention's national moratorium on evictions, arkansas continued to prosecute and evict tenants throughout the pandemic. Prompted by our reporting, in march 2021 state rep. Nicole clowney introduced a bill that would repeal the state's criminal "failure to vacate" statute. The bill faces considerable resistance from landlords whose cases are handled by local prosecutors, which allows them to avoid the cost of hiring attorneys for eviction proceedings in civil cases. Youngstown, ohio, puts company on notice for broken promises: in 2020, the business journal and propublica examined the use of financial incentives in youngstown, ohio. The city bet big on chill-can, promoted as the world's first self-chilling beverage can, giving the developer massive tax breaks and $1.5 million to build a $20 million campus. It also purchased and demolished the homes of roughly a dozen residents to make way for the plant. In exchange, the company said it would create hundreds of jobs, but four years later, no jobs have materialized. In march 2021, city officials held a press conference and sent a letter to the developer and its ceo, putting them on notice that they may have to repay the $1.5 million in grant funding, lose their tax incentives and face potential litigation for defaulting on their lucrative development agreements. Senate committee chair demands answers on facebook censorship: in february 2021, propublica investigated how tech giants such as facebook handle censorship requests made by authoritarian governments. We obtained internal emails showing that, in 2018, while turkey was in the midst of a military offensive a”

“In april 2021, a joint investigation by propublica and the mit technology review showed that the california air resources board's landmark cap-and-trade program issued tens of millions of carbon credits that may not have provided real climate change benefits. In august 2021, california's senate majority leader and two other legislators urged the air resources board, which is the state's top climate regulator, to review its forest offset program in a letter that cited our report. "we're at risk of undermining the cap-and-trade market by allowing cheap, questionable offsets to substitute for real emissions reductions," said state sen. Josh becker in an interview. "that keeps the market price artificially low and reduces the incentives for companies to make the change we need to drive down emissions." federal investigation confirms our findings on border patrol failures as teen died in custody: in december 2019, propublica reported on the death of 16-year-old carlos hernandez vasquez while in the custody of u.s. Customs and border protection. Video obtained by propublica showed that the border patrol held the sick teen in a concrete cell without proper medical attention and did not discover his body until his cellmate alerted guards. Border patrol agents claimed that they conducted regular checks, but the video didn't match their account. A september 2021 report issued by the department of homeland security office of inspector general echoed propublica's findings, detailing "deeply troubling failures" by the agency and noting that hourly welfare checks recorded by agents had not actually occurred while the boy died of the flu. The justice department has declined to prosecute the guards who falsified the records, and u.s. Customs and border protection is reviewing the inspector general's report to determine whether to take disciplinary action. Facebook removes more than 100 scammers from marketplace: in september 2021, propublica reported on the rise of scammers using facebook marketplace to target users around the world. Based on internal corporate documents, interviews and law enforcement records, our reporting shows that the platform fails to protect buyers and sellers from scam listings, fake accounts and violent crime. We also discovered that users accused of violent crimes related to marketplace transactions weren't banned from continuing to use the platform. After submitting questions to facebook about these issues, facebook removed the account of a man charged with the murder of a woman who came to his apartment to buy a fridge. In addition, the company removed thousands of listings and took other punitive action against more than 100 accounts after we identified listings that violated facebook policies. St. Jude hospital increases food allowances and housing stipends for families with sick children: in november of 2021, propublica published an investigation of st. Jude children's research hospital. Contrary to the organization's marketing, we learned that families with sick children were struggling to support themselves and were incurring huge debts while their children were under the hospital's care. Pleas for financial assistance were denied, and in some cases the hospital referred families to other foundations to seek funds. After propublica reached out to st. Jude with questions about their support for families, the hospital announced immediate changes to its policies on food allowances and travel. It increased food allowances, switching from a $50-a-day cap per family to providing $25 a day to each family member. For a family of four, that would double the food benefit. A weekly stipend given to families in long-term housing was increased to $150 from $125. Lawmakers call for immediate change at shelter housing afghan children: in october of 2021, propublica reported that dozens of traumatized afghan kids were struggling inside a chicago shelter that was ill equipped to care for them. As part of the evacuation from a”

“In may 2021, propublica reported on a disturbing practice used by customs and border protection staff to target and detain immigration attorneys. While crossing the border after visiting in mexico, several u.s. Citizens were interrogated by members of the secretive tactical terrorism response team, whose mission is to stop suspected foreign terrorists from entering the country. Although immigration policy dictates that citizens are only supposed to be flagged for border interrogations when they are suspected of criminal activity themselves, the response team harassed american attorneys for explaining immigration law and in at least one case accessed privileged client information. In october, homeland security's office of inspector general released a report confirming that the counterterrorism team interrogated dozens of americans, including activists and journalists, at the border as part of the trump administration's response to fears about a large migrant "caravan" making its way to the country's southern border. Hawaii cracks down on rich homeowners endangering beaches: in 2020, propublica published a series with the honolulu star-advertiser, a local reporting network partner, that revealed how policymakers are undermining laws and regulations intended to protect hawaii's critical beaches, which are eroding at an alarming rate. The beaches in hawaii are public, and the government is required to protect them, as they are important to native hawaiians, play a vital role in the health of local ecosystems, and are major drivers of tourism and the state's economy. Our team's use of data and multimedia clearly showed the destruction resulting from seawalls built by wealthy landowners, which has already wiped out nearly a quarter of the state's beaches. Subsequently, the state department of land and natural resources pledged to revise its rules governing shoreline structures, including emergency permits for sandbags. In addition, state policymakers passed a bill in 2021 aimed at warning people who buy waterfront property of the risks of sea level rise so that they cannot make subsequent claims against the state. In october of 2021, propublica learned that department of land and natural resources officials in hawaii are now taking action against residents who lined their oceanfront properties with sandbags, requiring homeowners to prove that a "bona fide planning effort" is underway, including employing professional planners, engineers or consultants to develop and implement a long-term solution, which may involve relocation, abandonment, beach restoration or some other form of shoreline management. Senators call for federal investigation into liberty university's handling of sexual assaults as school promises independent probe: in october 2021, propublica published an investigation of liberty university's handling of sexual assault on its campus. An evangelical christian school founded by jerry falwell sr., liberty ignored reports of rape and threatened to punish accusers for breaking its moral code. Breaking the liberty way code, which prohibits drinking and fraternizing with the opposite sex, could lead to fines, required community service or even expulsion. Cases were dismissed, and alleged victims were discouraged from filing complaints. A liberty official responsible for responding to propublica's pre-publication questions was ultimately fired for internally raising concerns over liberty's handling of these cases. He then became an informant for our reporting, calling liberty's response to sexual assault allegations a "conspiracy of silence." our report spurred immediate impact. Citing possible violations of federal law, three senators, including the two from virginia, began pressing the u.s. Department of education to investigate liberty university's handling of sexual assault claims. Following a rally on the lynchburg campus, liberty's board voted to open an "independent and comprehensive review" of the school office tasked”

“In may 2020, propublica reported that the trump administration's billion-dollar farmers to families food box program, meant to distribute fresh food to struggling food banks and other nonprofits dealing with increased food insecurity during the pandemic, was rife with problems, including an unusually fast bidding process that awarded contracts to many organizations who lacked experience or proper licenses. The program also left hard-hit areas like new york with less food than areas where the need was not as great, and it altogether bypassed the states of maine and alaska. In response to our reporting, both the house and senate sent letters to the u.s. Department of agriculture asking for an explanation of how it evaluated the bids, including whether it checked companies' licenses and considered equity across regions. The usda committed to reviewing food distribution to underserved areas during its next round of contracts and canceled the largest unlicensed contract, a $40 million deal to an avocado grower profiled in our initial investigation. In october 2021, the house select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis published the results of a congressional investigation into the program, echoing propublica's findings that it was mismanaged and used for political gain. La inspector general investigates allegations of racist policing: in september 2021, propublica and local reporting network partner kpcc/laist published a disturbing investigation of the ongoing targeting of black and latino residents by the los angeles county sheriff's department in suburban antelope valley. Deputies disproportionately detained and issued citations to black teens on public school campuses, often for minor infractions, such as getting in fights or smoking. Our research found that black teenagers accounted for 60 percent of the deputy contacts on campuses but made up only about 20 percent of the enrollment in those schools. In november 2021, the chair of the sheriff civilian oversight commission asked inspector general max huntsman's office to explore our findings in antelope valley. Huntsman said he was troubled by our reporting and is reviewing a proposed sheriff's department contract for the antelope valley union high school district. Propublica's work was honored in 2021 as follows: propublica's accountability journalism on the pandemic was a finalist for the 2021 pulitzer prize for public service. The package of articles addressed some of the pressing problems of the pandemic, pinpointing how they occurred and who was responsible. Our video "rescuing her father from an assisted living facility in the coronavirus epicenter" won the news & documentary emmy for outstanding business, consumer or economic coverage - our first solo emmy award - and the national press photographers association's best of photojournalism award in the pandemic category. "on the line: how the meatpacking industry became a hotbed of covid-19" won the george polk award in journalism in the health reporting category, the molly national journalism prize, the society for advancing business editing and writing's best in business award for business investigative, the association of health care journalists award for business and the national institute for health care management general circulation journalism award. "the black american amputation epidemic" won the george polk award in journalism for health reporting, the national magazine award for public interest and the association of health care journalists award for health policy. It was also a finalist for the national institute for health care management general circulation journalism award. Propublica editor-in-chief stephen engelberg won the goldsmith career award for excellence in journalism. "unheard," a local reporting network project with the anchorage daily news on alaskan sexual assault survivors, won the national magazine award for community journalism, the online news association's gather award in engaged journali”

“Our investigation revealing how the child car seat maker evenflo put profits over child safety won the gerald loeb award in personal finance and consumer reporting and was a finalist for the selden ring award for investigative reporting. A story by propublica and the new york times magazine on climate migration, with support from the pulitzer center, won the the society of environmental journalists' nina mason pulliam award, the sej award for reporting on the environment in the explanatory reporting category, the overseas press club whitman bassow award for international environmental issues, national association of science writers award in the series category and the covering climate now journalism award for special coverage, and an accompanying map won the sigma delta chi award for data visualization. It was also a finalist for the columbia journalism school's john b. Oakes award for distinguished environmental journalism. Our story on a new york state supreme court judge with early onset alzheimer's won the meyer "mike" berger award. "the nypd files" won the al nakkula prize for police reporting, the news leader association's first amendment award, the society of professional journalists' sunshine award, and the john jay college/harry frank guggenheim award in criminal justice reporting in the series category. It was a finalist for online journalism awards' university of florida award in investigative data journalism and the investigative reporters and editors' foi award. "the secret irs files" won the gold category in the barlett & steele awards for investigative journalism. "the cutting," a propublica local reporting network project with the oregonian/oregonlive and oregon public broadcasting, won columbia journalism school's john b. Oakes award for distinguished environmental journalism and the bronze category in the barlett & steele awards for investigative journalism. It received an honorable mention in the society for advancing business editing and writing's best in business award in the explanatory category. "inside the fall of the cdc" won the association of health care journalists award in the investigative category and received an honorable mention for the white house correspondents' association katharine graham award for courage and accountability. Reporting by the connecticut mirror, a propublica local reporting network partner, on the connection between housing and school segregation won the national award for education reporting in the investigative category and a new england newspaper & press association award for investigative/enterprise. Our investigation into "what parler saw during the attack on the capitol" won the online news association's al neuharth award for innovation in investigative journalism. Reporting by propublica and the news & observer on police accountability, black social movements and white power radicalization won the online journalism award for excellence in social justice reporting. The collaborative investigation between propublica and nashville public radio into a juvenile justice system in tennessee with a staggering history of jailing children won the sidney award. "what coronavirus job losses reveal about racism in america," an interactive graphic, won the society of professional journalists' sigma delta chi award for covid-19 data visualization. Our series on pandemic profiteers won the society for advancing business editing and writing's best in business award in the government category and the society of professional journalists' sigma delta chi award for covid-19 non-deadline reporting. Our reporting on trump political appointees who blocked a criminal prosecution of walmart over its suspicious opioid prescriptions won the society for advancing business editing and writing's best in business award in the retail category. "how dollar stores became magnets for crime and killing," co-published with the new yorker, won the society for advancing business editing and writing's best”

“News & observer on how nursing homes became coronavirus hot spots won the spj top of the rockies contest in the pandemic reporting category. Propublica local reporting network partner new mexico in depth's reporting on an albuquerque hospital where pregnant native women were singled out for covid-19 testing and separated from their newborns after delivery won the society of professional journalists' top of the rockies contest in the public service reporting category. Our news applications and data visualizations won 19 honors from the society for news design. Our story with the honolulu star-advertiser on hawaii's disappearing beaches won a bronze medal for page design, and our project on police use of force on protesters won a bronze medal for public service. We were recognized with snd awards of excellence in the categories of climate change, art direction, page design, infographics, illustrations, use of data, public service and the individual portfolios of lena groeger, ash ngu, al shaw and moiz syed. The data visualization "states are reopening: see how coronavirus cases rise or fall" won malofiej's bronze medal in the features category.”

“Pro publica has an audit committee that assumes responsibility for the oversight of the audit of its financial statements and for the selection of an independent accountant. The process has not changed from the prior year.”