The Poynter Institute is a global nonprofit that strengthens democracy by improving the relevance, ethical practice and value of journalism. Through teaching, publishing, convening, fact-checking and media literacy, Poynter creates a crossroads where communities come together to use journalism to confront society’s complex problems.

Read Poynter’s 2023-2024 Impact Report.

Poynter has long represented the gold standard for the professional development of journalists. For the last 50 years, Poynter has worked to bolster local news infrastructure and sustainability. In the last year, we’ve trained thousands of local journalists and their newsrooms in craft, digital audience and revenue growth, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective management. Our work with local newsrooms has led to millions of dollars in new revenue, millions in new digital audience, and local newsroom leadership that is more equipped to recruit and retain diverse staff, lead from an ethical framework, and create newsrooms that will thrive and continue to grow for years to come.

“(Poynter’s program) was exhilarating — it was the best thing that I and my staff have ever been through. It has really focused us on our future and given us the tools to meet the challenges ahead.”

Pat Crawford, Executive Director, WUWF, a university licensee radio station based in Pensacola, Florida

Poynter works to foster trust and empower citizens through our fact-checking and media literacy enterprises: the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact, the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), and the digital media literacy initiative MediaWise. Poynter is also the home of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, which is dedicated to improving the reliability of journalism and transparency between newsmakers and news consumers.

Poynter convenes gatherings and events for journalists and the public featuring the best and brightest minds to support journalism in service to democracy.

Poynter covers the news media industry for both journalists and non-journalists. You can find our news coverage, as well as thought-leadership from our faculty and other experts on our website, poynter.org.

Explore to learn more about the work Poynter is doing:

Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership
International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter
MediaWise
PolitiFact
Poynter Teaching
Tampa Bay Times (owned by the Poynter Institute)
Our People
Major Funders
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“I was lucky enough to attend trainings at Poynter several times earlier in my career. Continuing to build our skill sets is incredibly important, but also is being able to connect with others in the industry who are equally passionate about the work we do and are trying to continue to get better.”

Marisa Kwiatkowski, award-winning investigative reporter