The Current (news organization)

The Current is a non-profit news organization in Lafayette, Louisiana. It describes itself as an "independent, digital newsroom pursuing answers to Lafayette's big questions."[1]

The Current
TypeNon-profit online news organization
EditorChristiaan Mader
Managing editorLeslie Turk
Founded2017 (2017)
LanguageEnglish
CityLafayette, Louisiana, United States
Websitethecurrentla.com

History

The Current first appeared in April 2017 as a glossy print monthly published by IND Media, the company behind The IND Monthly (previously The Independent Weekly), a Lafayette alternative newspaper. With a print run of 10,000 copies, it was branded as "Lafayette's journal of culture, commentary and ideas."[2][3]

The glossy Current only lasted three issues.[4] In July 2017, amid widespread financial declines in newspapers, IND Media announced it was shutting down The IND Monthly after 14 years and suspending publication of The Current.[5] A few weeks later, IND Media announced that The Current's editorial director, Christiaan Mader, was acquiring the brand and planned to relaunch it as "a community-supported, primarily digital outlet," which it did in April 2018.[6][7]

The following year, The Current announced it would become a nonprofit organization, putting "local journalism where it always belonged — in the category of public service."[8] It was granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service in February 2021.[9]

Organization and funding

Mader is The Current's editor. Leslie Turk, previously of The IND Monthly, is managing editor.[10]

The Current is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, Solutions Journalism Network, and LION Publishers. David Begnaud of CBS News is a member of its board of directors.[10]

It is primarily funded by Lafayette-area individuals and foundations, but it has also received donations from the Google News Initiative, the Facebook Journalism Project, the Solutions Journalism Network, the Local Media Foundation, and the Fund for Nonprofit News at The Miami Foundation.[11]

In 2020, it reported total revenues of $90,930.[9]

References
  1. "The Current". Facebook. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. "The Current is now". The Independent. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. "The Current (digital edition)". npaper-wehaa.com. No. April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. "The Current (digital archives)". npaper-wehaa.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  5. "IND Media closing The Independent, suspending ABiz and The Current". The Independent. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  6. "Christiaan Mader acquiring, relaunching The Current". The Independent. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  7. "New Domestic Filings: 10/01/2017 to 10/08/2017". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  8. Mader, Christiaan (29 May 2019). "The Current is going nonprofit. Here's why". The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. "Current Media (Christiaan Mader Sole Mbr) in Lafayette, LA". OrgCouncil. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  10. "About Us". The Current. The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  11. "Our Donors". The Current. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
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