The Markup

The Markup is an American nonprofit news publication focused on the impact of technology on society. Founded in 2018 with the goal of advancing data-driven journalism, the publication launched in February 2020. Nabiha Syed is the current chief executive officer and Sisi Wei is the editor-in-chief.

The Markup
Established2018 Edit this on Wikidata (5 years ago)
FoundersJulia Angwin Edit this on Wikidata
Typesonline newspaper Edit this on Wikidata
PurposeThe Markup challenges technology to serve the public good.
HeadquartersNew York City Edit this on Wikidata
Chief ExecutivesNabiha Syed Edit this on Wikidata
Websitethemarkup.org 

History

The Markup was co-founded by two former ProPublica journalists Julia Angwin and Jeff Larson, and executive and journalist Sue Gardner.[1] The project was announced in April 2018, with an expected launch in early 2019.[2]

In 2018, founder Anguin said the portal planned to collect and create public datasets through public records requests, automated data collection, crowdsourcing information, and creating tools.[3]

In April 2019, Gardner fired Angwin as editor-in-chief. According to Larson and Gardner, the reasons for Angwin's removal included disagreements over the non-journalistic responsibilities of Angwin's role as an executive, such as the organization falling behind in its hiring plans and the launch timeline.[4] Larson was named as her replacement. In a letter to Craig Newmark, The Markup's largest donor, Angwin asked him to intervene, claiming she was pushed out after resisting Gardner's attempts to change The Markup's mission to "one based on advocacy against the tech companies." Six out of seven journalists on staff resigned following Angwin's ouster. Gardner denied changing the mission, telling The New York Times, "We are, pure and simple, a news outlet, we always have been and always will be. Our goals and purpose haven't changed."[5][6]

In May 2019, Newmark announced that Gardner and Larson had left The Markup, and there were reports about plans to bring back Angwin as editor-in-chief.[7][8]

On August 6, 2019, The Markup announced that Angwin would return as editor-in-chief, along with Nabiha Syed as president and much of the original team – but without Larson or Gardner.[9] Syed was previously BuzzFeed's associate general counsel and vice president.[10]

The publication launched in February 2020.[10]

In 2022, Syed hired Sisi Wei, formerly of OpenNews and ProPublica to become editor-in-chief, replacing Angwin.[11]

In February 2023, Angwin left The Markup.[12]

Funding

The Markup received a $20 million gift from Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. The Markup also raised $2 million from the Knight Foundation and an additional $1 million from the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and The Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative.[13]

Coverage and impact

2022 reporting on Meta and tax preparation companies

In November 2022, an investigation by The Markup revealed that tax filing companies including H&R Block, TaxSlayer, and TaxAct have shared users' financial information with Facebook parent company Meta.[14][15][16] In response, a class action lawsuit was filed by H&R Block customers against Meta, who accused the tech company of violating users' privacy rights.[17] Senator Elizabeth Warren and representatives Katie Porter and Brad Sherman sent letters to the tax companies, as well as Meta and Google, to warn against such behavior.[18]

References
  1. "About". The Markup. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  2. Owen, Laura Hazard (April 12, 2018). "Former ProPublica journalists are launching a newsroom to cover the impact of technology on society". Nieman Foundation for Journalism. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  3. Johnson, Eric (September 27, 2018). "It may be 'data journalism,' but Julia Angwin's new site the Markup is nothing like FiveThirtyEight". Recode. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  4. Ingram, Matthew (April 25, 2019). "Here's what happened inside The Markup". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  5. Maheshwari, Sapna (April 23, 2019). "Julia Angwin Is Out as Editor of New Tech Watchdog Site The Markup". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. Sterne, Peter (April 23, 2019). "The Markup ousts editor in chief Julia Angwin, prompting resignations". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  7. Tracy, Marc (May 24, 2019). "More Turmoil at The Markup, a Tech Site Still in Beta Mode". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  8. Vranica, Suzanne (May 24, 2019). "Julia Angwin in Talks to Return to Tech News Site She Helped Found". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  9. Tracy, Marc (August 6, 2019). "The Markup, a Tech News Site, Reinstalls Its Fired Editor as Part of a Fresh Start". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  10. Tracy, Marc (February 24, 2020). "After Long Wait, The Markup Is Ready to 'Show Our Work'". New York Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  11. Tameez, Hanaaʼ. "'A bigger focus on the human impact of technology': Sisi Wei is The Markup's new editor-in-chief". Nieman Lab. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  12. Angwin, Julia (February 4, 2023). "Journalistic Lessons for the Algorithmic Age". The Markup. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  13. Bowles, Nellie (September 23, 2018). "News Site to Investigate Big Tech, Helped by Craigslist Founder". The New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  14. Fingas, Jon (November 22, 2022). "Tax prep websites have been sending sensitive financial data to Facebook". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  15. Feiner, Lauren (November 22, 2022). "Popular tax prep software sent financial information to Meta: report". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  16. Leahey, Andrew (December 13, 2022). "Facebook Leak Just One Reason Taxpayer Data Sharing Must Stop". Bloomberg Tax. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  17. Moon, Mariella (December 3, 2022). "Meta faces lawsuit for harvesting financial data from tax prep websites". Engadget. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  18. "Senators Warren, Wyden, Representatives Porter and Sherman Call Out Tax Prep Companies for Sharing of Private Taxpayer Financial Information with Meta, Google | U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts". Senator Elizabeth Warren (warren.senate.gov). December 14, 2022. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
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