ProPublica and The Texas Tribune have announced the selection of five new partner organizations in Texas to join the second year of a local investigative initiative aimed at fostering accountability journalism across the state.
Over the coming year, participating newsrooms—Big Bend Sentinel, the Houston Chronicle, KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, KXAN Investigates in Austin, and the Texas Observer—will collaborate with the Texas investigative unit at ProPublica and the Tribune to cover state and federal efforts to limit local governance.
In its inaugural year, the initiative saw state partners produce in-depth reports on various significant issues, including a contentious campaign to reform Dallas city government and the increasing political influence of the North Texas church known as Mercy Culture. They also investigated the activities of a prominent lobbying group, analyzed the challenges faced by El Paso in developing its aerospace sector, and scrutinized Elon Musk’s growing influence over state governance. Notably, The Texas Newsroom and the Houston Chronicle worked together to uncover Musk’s The Boring Company’s plans for a flood tunnel in Houston, supported by a local congressman.
Vianna Davila, deputy editor of the ProPublica-Tribune investigative unit, emphasized the importance of local newsrooms in holding powerful officials accountable, stating, “The first year of our Texas investigative initiative demonstrated the critical role local newsrooms play in holding accountable the powerful officials of this very influential state. We are eager to keep working with local partners, so together we can be force multipliers and produce strong investigative journalism.”
The collaboration between ProPublica and the Tribune began in 2020, marking a unique effort to deliver investigative journalism relevant to Texas. Stories produced by this joint unit are published by both organizations and are provided at no cost to other news outlets across Texas and beyond.
Big Bend Sentinel
Based in Marfa, Big Bend Sentinel is a weekly nonprofit publication that covers the expansive Far West Texas region, which includes Presidio, Brewster, and Jeff Davis counties. Known for its commitment to local journalism, the Sentinel dives deep into the news, culture, and arts of communities in the Big Bend area, as well as Ojinaga, Mexico. To cater to a diverse readership, the publication offers Spanish-language articles weekly, addressing the needs of those who prefer news in their native language.
The Sentinel has emerged as a crucial source of information regarding the federal government’s plans for a border wall along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area.
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle stands as Texas’s largest newsroom, serving the nation’s fourth-largest city and boasting three Pulitzer Prizes. Its investigations have led to significant reforms in utility practices at CenterPoint, prompted an investigation into a $95 million lottery jackpot scheme, and exposed hazards associated with abandoned oil and gas wells.
In the wake of devastating floods on July 4 that resulted in over 130 fatalities, the Chronicle uncovered that local officials opted for tax cuts over enhancing the flood warning system, and that certain buildings were omitted from FEMA flood maps, including a camp where 27 girls and their counselors tragically lost their lives. In response, lawmakers enacted new safety regulations for camps and committed $1.5 million to improve the warning system.
KRIS 6 News
KRIS 6 News has been the NBC affiliate for South Texas since 1956, earning accolades for its commitment to broadcast excellence and public records reporting. The newsroom’s “Facing Danger” series highlighted design flaws in Harbor Bridge ramps that led to multiple fatalities, while also revealing problematic housing deals with the Corpus Christi Housing Authority and issues within the Nueces County medical examiner’s office. Since August, the station has focused on the escalating water crisis in Corpus Christi through its “Running Dry” series.
KXAN Investigates
KXAN Investigates is a dedicated team of journalists based in Austin, known for addressing stories that drive policy change and enhance community safety. The team has received numerous accolades, including seven national Edward R. Murrow Awards, for its investigative work.
In 2019, KXAN launched “Catalyst,” a digital-first unit that employs innovative storytelling to tackle complex issues, such as flaws in the state’s missing persons system and challenges facing Texas inmates. Recently, they have led a broader team in a crowdsourcing project titled “Undocumented: Texas’ Immigration Impact in a New Trump Era,” which examines the implications of a new administration’s strict immigration policies.
Texas Observer
The Texas Observer is a nonprofit news outlet and print magazine committed to promoting equity in Texas through investigative reporting and narrative storytelling. Since its inception in 1954, the Observer has focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and challenging public officials and corporations through accountability journalism.
Its recent investigations have garnered awards for exposing misleading government narratives about Venezuelan gang membership, identifying a prejudiced prosecutor within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, scrutinizing a death row conviction, and revealing the extent of an overdose crisis in Austin.
