Post on 28-Sep-2020
Food & Environment Reporting Network
2018 Annual Report
MISSIONSTATEMENT
TheFood&EnvironmentRepor2ngNetwork(FERN)isthefirstandonlyindependent,
non-profit,non-par2sannewsorganiza2onthatproducesexplanatoryandinves2ga2ve
repor2ngonfood,agriculture,andenvironmentalhealththroughpublica2onpartnershipswithrespectedlocaland
na2onalmediaoutlets.
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�2
TheFood&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetworkispleasedtopresentits2018AnnualReport,followingitsseventhfullyearofopera0ons.FERNproduceshigh-impact,change-makingjournalismaboutfood,agriculture,andenvironmentalhealth.WithoutFERN,theworldwouldbealiJledarker,ourunderstandingaliJleleaner.FERNreachesmillionsofreaders—educa0ngconsumers,informinginfluencers,anddeepeningpolicymakers’understandingofourfood,thepeoplewhoproduceit,andthelandandseafromwhichitcomes.
Webelieveafreeandindependentmediaunderpinahealthydemocra0csociety.FERNprovidestheeditorialexper0setoexplore,explainandinves0gateallcornersofthefoodsystem,aswellastofillgapsincoveragethathavearisenduetotheongoingdisrup0onbydigitaltechnologyofthetradi0onalmediabusinessmodel.FERNexpandspublicunderstandingofthesecrucialissuesata0mewhentrustedsourcesofinforma0onarecri0caltomaintainingourdemocracy.
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2018 Annual Report
In2018,weproduced35storiesonsubjectsrangingfromtheeffectsofextremedroughtonfarmersinCentralAmerica’sDryCorridorin“‘EveryDayYouBecomeMoreDesperate’,”tofinaldaysofthevaquita—asmallporpoisefoundonlyinMexico’sGulfofCalifornia.
Weaddedseveralimportantnewpartners,includingTheWorldPost,Eater,AdirondackLife,EdibleBrooklyn,ArkansasLife,NET(NebraskaPublicRadio),TheNewFoodEconomy,andReveal.
FERN’srepor0nggarneredseveralawardsin2018.WewonourthirdJamesBeardFounda0onAwardfor“TerrorintheHeartland,”aFERNstoryreportedby
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TedGenowaysandpublishedinpartnershipwithTheNewRepublicwhichwonthejournalismawardin“Inves0ga0veRepor0ng.”Thisstoryuncovereddetailsofhowanelec0on-nightplottomassacreMuslimrefugeesinaKansasmeatpackingtownwasthwarted.
Our2018budgetwas$975,000.Thatfundingcamefromamixoffounda0onsandindividuals,includingthe11thHourProject,theWoodcockFounda0on,theMcKnightFounda0on,theCaliforniaEndowment,GRACECommunica0onsFounda0on,PantaRheaFounda0on,andtheNellNewmanFounda0on,amongothers.
InOctober2018,webroughtoursuccessfulFERNTalks&EatseventseriestoBrooklyn.Wepresentedavitalandelectrifyingpaneldiscussionthatdelvedintothe#MeToomovementandissuesofequityandinclusionintherestaurantbusiness.AmandaCohen,chefatDirtCandy,wroteanessayaboutthisinEsquire,highligh0ngthemedia’sneglectofwomenchefsun0lthecurrentscandals.“Womenmaynothavevalueaschefs,butasvic0mswe’refinallyinteres0ng!”shewrote.Over100aJendeesheardaboutthewaysthat#MeToointersectswithrace,gender,classandiden0typoli0cs–ul0matelyinfluencingthefoodonourplates.Inaddi0ontoCohen,panelistsincludedRuthReichl,AlanaMcMillan,andAsh0nBerry,withFERNwriterTracieMcMillanasmoderator.TheeventtookplaceatTheGreenBuildingandfeaturedfoodpreparedbysixwomanchefsfromDannyMeyer’sUnionSquareHospitalityGroup,aswellaswinefromwomanwinemakers.
Beyondthebignameswepartneredwiththisyear,suchasNa2onalGeographicandTheWeatherChannel,therangeofoursubjectsshowsthebroadscopeofFERN’swork,anditsappealtodiverseaudiences:Oakland’ssolu0ontoschoolfoodwaste;figh0ngbackagainstslaveryincommercialfishing;andhowfarmersinPuertoRicoaretryingtorebuildonthebaJeredisland.
In2018,FERN’ssocialmediapresencecon0nuedtoexpanditsreachandinfluence.Weareac0veonthreesocialmediaplaporms—TwiJer,FacebookandInstagram.Ouraudienceengagementeditorsupervisesac0vityontheseplaporms,includingthejudicioususeofpaidpromo0on(a.k.a.“boosts”)inordertoreachbeyondourfollowers(andinthecaseofFacebook,toreachasignificantnumberofourfollowers).Wealsoworkcloselywithourpublica0onpartners’
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Engagement and Business Lines
socialmediastaff,whohelppromoteourcollabora0onsand“tag”uswithintheindividualplapormsinwhichtheyoperate.Oursocialaudienceisapproximately43,000usersandtotalimpressionsin2018forourpostsandtweetswasapproximately4.4millionperyear.
Thoughthepastyearsawmodestgrowthinourtotalnumberofsocialmediafollowers,wedidseeverylargegrowthinourpostandtweetimpressions,aswellaspost/tweetengagements.Our2018socialimpressionsshowedanincreaseof27%.Wesawthesametrendwithourcombinedsocialmediapost/tweetengagements,whichregistereda62%increase.
Recently,theneedforspendingmoneytoincreasefollowershasbeenreplacedbytheimportanceofboos0ngspecificcontentinordertobuildaloyalandengagedaudience—andthatdevelopmentguidedoursocialmediainvestments.Andthoughwewerepleasedwiththeincreaseinthenumberofimpressionswesawfrom2017to2018,itisthat62%-increaseinengagementfrom2017to2018thatholdsthemostweightforusintermsofasolidsocialmediagrowthforFERNoverthepastyear.
Ourwebsite,whilenotdesignedtobeades0na0onsite—ourexpecta0onisthatourworkfindsitsaudiencethroughourpublica0onpartners—reaches143,000uniqueusersayearwithnearly500,000pageviewsannually.WehaveanemailnewsleJeraudienceofjustover10,000people.
Forearnedmediathroughout2018,FERNhasbuiltanimpressivelist,bothforourstoriesandforawarenessoftheorganiza0onitself.OurstoriesandreportershavebeenfeaturedininterviewswithHarvestPublicMedia,PRI’sLivingonEarth,KCRW’sGoodFood,TheFarmShow,HeritageRadioNetwork,NorthDakotaPublicRadio,WNYC’sTheTakeaway,amongothers.FERNstorieshavebeenmen0onedbypopularsitessuchasSalon,ScienceFriday,TheDailyClimate,andYahoo.Influen0algroupslikeUCFoodObserver,MotherJonesFood,SlowFoodDC,BerkeleyFoodIns2tute,LAFoodPolicyCouncil,CarolinaFarmStewardshipAssocia2on,CaliforniaAssocia2onofFoodBanks,NOFA-NYandFoodTankhavebeenvocalaboutFERN’swork.
AndinfluencerssuchasMarionNestle,MarkBiJman,MichaelPollan,andTomColicchiocon0nuetoboostFERN’sprofileviatheirsocialmediaandpersonalblogs.OurEditor-in-Chiefwaspartofapanelonmediapartnershipsatthe2018IREConference(Inves0ga0veReporters&Editors),andFERNhostedtwopanelsatSXSW2019,thepre-eminentmedia,innova0on,andtechnologyconference,oneonruralrepor0ngandtheotheronthefutureofsustainabilityatlargefoodcompanies.
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Wecon0nuetomaintainandsupportFERN’sFridayFeednewsleJer,a.k.a.the#FFF,aweeklycura0onofthestoriesinourareasofinterestthathavebeenpublishedbyotheroutlets.Someselec0onsareatthetopofthenewswhileothersareprescientorin-depthfeaturesthatwethinkourreadersshouldknowabout.WesendthisnewsleJerweeklytoasubscriberbaseof7,300asawaytoenhanceengagementwithanaudiencethatismostlydis0nctfromoursocial-mediaaudience.Thisini0a0veisdesignedtoestablishFERNasguideinnaviga0ngtheexpanseoffoodmedia,andnotonlyaproduceroforiginaljournalism.Thisaddedtouchofengagementhasalsohelpedustohomeinonwhichtopicsresonatemostwithouraudience.
Business Line Development
Wecon0nuedtoexpandourfoodandagriculturepolicynewsservice,FERN’sAgInsider.Forasmallannualfee,subscribersgainaccesstorepor0ng,includingafullarchiveonourwebsite,withasubject-tagorganiza0on.TheemailnewsleJer,nowincludingonlysummariesofthefullstories,remainsfree.Wehaveamodestbutgrowingnumberofindividualandcorporatesubscribersandagrowingnumberofacademicins0tu0onalsubscribers,includingStanfordUniversity,NewYorkUniversity,HarvardLawSchool,Tuws,Yale,andtheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.Inaddi0on,Agriculture.com(oneoftheforemostnewsoutletsforcommodityfarmers),SuccessfulFarmermagazine,NPR’sTheSalt,NewFoodEconomy,andMotherJonescurrentlysyndicateselectedAgInsiderar0cles.WeseeFERN’sAgInsider,par0cularlyins0tu0onalandcorporatesales,asasignificantareaforearnedrevenuegrowth.
Attheendoftheyear,weproducedandpublishedourthirdprintcollec0on,TheDirt2018—aselec0onofourfavoritestoriesfromthepastyear.
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Ourrangeofimpactisrising.Wecon0nuetoemphasizeavarietyofpartnersandaudiences.Somearesmallbuthighlyfocused,suchasEnsia,whichcaterstoenvironmentalpolicymakers,advocatesandmedia,orArkansasLife,aregionallifestylemagazine.Othersarebroadandmainstream,likeEa2ngWell,TheWashingtonPostandNa2onalGeographic.Wesucceededinaler0ngmillionsof“newtotheissues”readersandprimingthemforreform.
“Buildingabackupbee,”byPaigeEmbry,tellsthestoryofhowTheWonderfulCompany,theworld’slargestproducerofalmonds,hiredascien0sttocul0vatetheblueorchardbee—atscaleandatapricethatmadesense—assubs0tutepollinatorfortheembaJledhoneybee.ItwasoursecondstorywithScien2ficAmerican,andthefirsttomakethecutfortheprintmagazine.Embry’spiecebeganasonlineonly,butbythe0mewedeliveredthefirstdraw—aswellassomeamazingphotographybyJayDunn—theeditorsatSciAmdecideditwaswortheleva0ngtothemagazine.Assuch,thestoryrepresentsthebestofwhatFERNbringstothetableforourpartners:funding,ofcourse,butalsoshrewdeditorialjudgment,sharpedi0ng,andtheabilitytodeliverfirst-rateancillaryelements,suchasphotosandinfographics.
In“Wasyourseafoodcaughtwithslavelabor?Newtooltriestohelpretailers,”ClareLeschin-Hoarexplainshowanewdatabase,developedbyThe
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Impact Report
RADIO APPEARANCE
9.5M TOTAL READERS
REACHED
Building a backup beeMeasuring impact
MEDIA MENTIONS
How the world’s largest almond grower created a novel replacement for the embattled honeybee
7.1M SOCIAL USERS
REACHED
TWEETED BY
UC FOOD OBSERVER & AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
PAIGE EMBRY FOR SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
TALKED ABOUT ON
MINNPOST’S EARTH JOURNAL BLOG
MontereyBayAquarium’sSeafoodWatchprogram,offersretailerssuchasWalmart,Kroger,andRedLobsterawaytodeterminethelikelihoodthatthefishthey’rebuyingwascaughtwithslavelabor.ThepiecewaspublishedwithNPR’sTheSalt,andClarewasinterviewedonAllThingsConsideredthesameday.OurpartnershipwithTheSaltallowedthestorytoberepublishedonseveralofNPR’saffiliates’websites,includingWBUR,NewEnglandPublicRadio,WyomingPublicRadio,DelawarePublicMedia,MainePublicRadio,LakeshorePublicMedia,IndianaPublicMedia,andothers.
“Aslow-mo0oncatastrophethreatens350-year-oldfarms”byVirginiaGewin,waspublishedwithTheAtlan2c.VirginiawasonWNYC’sTheTakeawaytalkingaboutthestory.ThepiecewasalsofeaturedonAgFunderNews’blog,anindustrynewssiteattheintersec0onoffood&agriculture,technologyandinvestment.
“Canagricultureandwildlifeco-exist?Ricefarmersthinkso,”byLisaMorehouse,wasbroadcastwithKQED’sCaliforniaReport.Onsocialmedia,ourlinktothestoryreachednearly10,000people.ThestorywastweetedbytheCARiceCommission,CaliforniaTrout,andSocietyofEnvironmentalJournalists(SEJ),EnvironmentalDefenseFund,andKALW(SanFranciscoBayArearadio).ItwasalsosharedonFacebookbyRootsofChange(nonprofitbasedinOakland,Calif.).LisadiscussedthestoryonWBUR’sHereandNow.
“IsBPAmakingusfat,anxiousandsick?Anewefforttofindtheanswermaybebreakingdown,”byLindseyKonkel,showedhowtheFDAisapparentlytryingtowhitewashtheresultsofayears-longefforttopinpointthebestwaystomeasuretoxicityofman-madechemicals.OurpartneronthiswasHuffPost,andthepiecegot122,000pageviewsinthefirstthreedays.HuffPost’ssocialeffortsforthisstorydrama0callyhelpedwiththereach.NotonlydidtheysharethestoryfromtheirgeneralHuffPostTwiJeraccount(11.4millionfollowers),buttheyalsoshareditfromtheHuffPostPoli0csTwiJeraccount(1.43millionfollowers).AndonFacebook,theyshareditfromtheirHuffPostPoli0cspage(over2.1millionfollowers).Whencombined,thosethreeaccountshavethepoten0altoreachabout15millionsocialmediausers.NotethatHuffPostalsotaggedFERNinalloftheseshares.Sonotonlydidtheyhelpspreadthewordonsocialmediaaboutthestory,buttheyletpeopleknowthatFERNwasbehindthestory.
Wealsohadanumberofstoriesfocusedonruralcommuni0es,ordistributedtoruralaudienceswithinthepastyear.“ThejamónwentdowntoGeorgia,”byMarynMcKenna,lookedatfarmersinGeorgiadiscoveringthebenefitsofheritagebreeds(inthiscaseatypeofhogthattypicallyonlythrivesinSpain).ItwaspublishedwithEater.Onsocialmedia,Eater’slinkto
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thestoryhadover206,000socialshares.Eater’scombinedsocialmediaaudienceforTwiJerandFacebookisover2.5million.
“Drinkingproblems,”byElizabethRoyte,wasaclassicFERNstory,a“LeJerFromPreJyPrairie,Kansas”—publishedwithHarper’s—thatexplainedwhythis0nyfarmingcommunityhadlivedfordecadeswithhighlevelsofnitratesinitsdrinkingwater.ItopenedawindowontolifeinruralAmerica,andhowfarmerss0llhaveexaltedstatus—evenwhenthey’refoulingthetown’swatersupply.ThisstorywassharedonsocialmediabyarangeofinfluencersthatincludedDanielleNierenberg,MarionNestle,andthena0onalnonprofit,PublicJus0ce.
“ADemocratinfarmcountryhopestobeatoneofIowa’sbiggestracists,”byBrianBarth,wasa0melystoryonfarmerdiscontentoverTrumptradepolicies,toldthroughthelensoftheIowamidterms.ItexaminedaDemocratwhowasvyinginaprimarytofaceRep.SteveKing,probablythemostexplicitlywhitesupremacistpoli0cianintheHouse.ItillustratestwoimportantthingsintermsofFERN’scoverageintheTrumpera:first,it’sastoryfromthemiddleofthecountrythatusesfoodandagasawaytounderstandpoli0calandculturaltrends;second,itwasafairlyquick-turnaroundpiece,somethingthatourrobustpartnershipwithMotherJonesmakespossible.
Thispartnerhasahugesocialmediaaudienceat2.3millionfollowers(Facebook,TwiJer,andInstagram),andtheirlinktothisstoryhadover600socialshares.Theirpodcast,TheBite,alsopointedtothepieceonsocialmedia.AndUCFoodObserverincludedthestoryinitsweeklywrap.Itwaspar0cularly0melyastheDemocra0ccandidate,J.D.Scholten,whowontheprimarybutlosttoKinginNovember,neverthelessopenedupadebatethatcon0nuedpost-elec0onastowhetherKinghasanyplaceinCongress.Byearly2019,KinghadbeenstrippedofhiscommiJeeassignmentsbyhisGOPcolleaguesandlewasavirtualbystandertotheworkofCongress.
InJune2018,wereleasedourfirstexplainervideo.Itwasananimatedexplora0onofthefarmbill,0medperfectlyforthedebateoverthefarmbill’srenewal,whichonlyoccurseveryfiveyears.WedistributeditonsocialmediawhileMotherJonesandNPRembeddeditontheirsitesaswell.Injustoversevenminutes,weexplainwhatthefarmbillis,whyitmaJers,andhowthecompromisesthatmadeitworkfordecadesarethreateningtopullapart.ThepiecewasreportedbyBridgetHuber,aregularFERNcontributor,andourdesign,illustra0on,andanima0onteammadeitanespeciallyrichpiece.Ithasreceivedover16,000views(andcoun0ng)andwassharedwidelyby
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advocatesandac0vists.Itwaspraisedbyfiguresacrossthepoli0calspectrum,includingfromwithinUSDAitself.
Thisexplainerwasmen0onedwidelyonsocialmediabyinfluencersinfoodpolicysuchasMarionNestle,MarkBiJman,SlowFoodDC,BerkeleyFoodIns0tute,LAFoodPolicyCouncil,CarolinaFarmStewardshipAssocia0on,andCaliforniaAssocia0onofFoodBanks.PublisherswhosharedthevideoincludedGrist,HarvestPublicMedia,NewFoodEconomy,DailyYonder,YES!,UCFoodObserver,andMidwestCenterforInves2ga2veRepor2ng.Italsorepresentsaproofofconcept,andisintendedtobethestartofaneweditorialservicethatwecouldpoten0allybringtoourpartnerships.Assuch,itwasamongthemostimportantthingswe’vedoneallyear..
“Theendling:watchingaspeciesvanishinreal0me,”byBenGoldfarb,isagorgeousnarra0veofacontroversialbandofenvironmentalac0vistswhoworkedwiththeMexicangovernmenttotrytosavethevaquita,asmallporpoisefoundonlyintheGulfofCaliforniathatisgoingex0nct.ThiswasthelatestinaburgeoningpartnershipwithPacificStandard,apublica0onthatisreallydoingsomegreatjournalism.Wehadover1.6Ksocialsharesforthisstory,includingatweetfromtheireditor-in-chiefwhostated,“Thisisoneofmyfavoriterecentfeaturesin@PacificStand.Pleasecheckitout.Andthanks,
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WHAT IS THE FARM BILL AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Measuring impact
MEDIA MENTIONS
This video unpacks this complex law, the most important piece of legislation that shapes America’s food, farm and anti-hunger programs.
BRIDGET HUBER FOR FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK
SHARED on social media BY INFLUENCERS
IN FOOD POLICY ISSUES
12K VIDEO VIEWS
3M SOCIAL USERS
REACHED
asalways,tothe@FERNnewsteamforhelpingmakethisonehappen.”Ontheweb,thepiecewaspickedupbysourcesincludingMinnPost,MotherNatureNetwork,andLongform.
“CanfarmingsavePuertoRico’sfuture?”byAudreaLim,isthefirstofaseriesofar0clesFERNishelpingtoproducewithTheNa2ononpeopleandcommuni0esadap0ngtoclimatechange.Thesewereconceivedasonline-onlypieces,buttheeditorsweresoimpressedwiththisfirstonethattheyincludeditintheprintmagazine.Thisstorywassharedonsocialmediabyinfluencerswhoworktowardglobalchangeinfoodsystems.ThesesharedincludedFoodTank,CenterforFoodSafety,andSIANI(TheSwedishInterna0onalAgricultureNetworkIni0a0ve).
“ThisliJlepiggywenttomarket…andeverythingchanged,”byJohnnySain,isafirsthandaccount,byaformercontracthogfarmerforCargill,ofthedeleteriouseffectsthatCAFOshavehadontheeconomy,environment,andcultureofruralArkansascommuni0es.Thefirst-personnatureofthepieceisatypicalforFERNstories,butitturnedouttobeoneofthear0cle’sstrengths.WeworkedwithArkansasLife,aregionallifestylemagazine.Whileitlackedthereachofmanyofourpartners,itgotFERN’sworkintoruralAmericainawaythatmanyofourpartnerscannot.
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Featured as a must-read on the web
1.6M TOTAL READERS
REACHED
The end of the ‘Panda of the sea’Measuring impact
MEDIA MENTIONS
The story of a band of environmental activists working with the Mexican government to try to save the vaquita, a small porpoise found only in the Gulf of California, from going extinct.
245K SOCIAL USERS
REACHED
BEN GOLDFARD FOR PACIFIC STANDARD
Talked about on social media by our publication partner’s Editor-in-Chief
“How’sorganicfarmingfaringinthefarmbill?”byBarryYeoman,isananalysisofwhat’shappeningwiththefundingoftheorganicmovementinthe2018farmbilldebate.Likethevideoexplainerlistedabove,thisispartofabroadereffortbyFERNtodeeplycoverthestoryofthissprawlingandpoorlyunderstoodpieceoflegisla0onthatdetermineshowourfoodisproduced,andwhathappenstoitawerit’sproduced.AndlikethestorywithArkansasLife,wepartneredwithNebraskaPublicBroadcas2ngonthispiece,whichagaingetsourworktoanimportantaudiencewedon’ttypicallyreach.Thestorywasalsopickedupandsharedonsocialmediabyorganiza0onsconcernedwiththeissuesrelatedtoruralAmerica,suchastheCarolinaFarmStewardshipAssocia0on(CFSA),whichsupportsfarmingthatisgoodforconsumers,forfarmersandfarmworkers,andgoodfortheland.AsecondstorybroadcastwithNebraskapublicradiolookedatPuertoRicanfarmersintheawermathofHurricaneMaria.
Notably,wehadamajorsuccessrecentlywhenJaneBlackandLeahDouglas,inaFERNcollabora0onwithTheWashingtonPost,brokenewsonhowanelectronicpaymentsystemforSNAPbenefitsatfarmersmarketswasfloundering.AkeyvendorinthischainoverseenbytheUSDAwasabouttoexitthebusiness,leaving1,700farmersmarketsna0onwidewithnowaytoprocesselectronicSNAPbenefitsandmanylow-incomerecipientswithoutaccesstofresh,localfood.
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Some food stamp recipients may soon lose access to farmers market benefits
Measuring impact
Shared By
This story broke the news on how an electronic payment system for SNAP benefits at farmers markets was floundering. After it ran, a non-profit funder stepped into the gap, helping the provider continue in business until the end of August.
JANE BLACK & LEAH DOUGLAS FOR WASHINGTON POST
90.2 Million TOTAL READERS REACHED
Fourteen Democratic senators wrote a letter to the USDA demanding a new solution.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also wrote to the USDA and several U.S. representatives weighed in.
Media Mentions Radio & TV
Awerourstoryran,anonprofitfundersteppedintothegap,helpingtheprovidercon0nueinbusinessun0ltheendofAugust.Poli0ciansalsodemandedthattheUSDAcomeupwithanewsolu0ontoavoidserviceinterrup0ons.FourteenDemocra0csenatorswrotealeJertotheUSDA,askingthedepartmentto“exploreeverypossibleop0ontoensurethereisnodisrup0oninEBT[ElectronicBenefitsTransfer]serviceatfarmersmarketsduringthiscri0calmarket0me.”NewYorkGov.AndrewCuomowroteascathingleJertotheUSDA,andseveralU.S.representa0vesalsoweighedin.Butthiswasnotapar0sanissue;manyconserva0vessupportedtheprogramasamarket-basedapproachthathelpsbothfarmersandlow-incomeconsumers.Gov.Cuomolaterannouncedafundingplantoensuremarketscancon0nueaccep0ngSNAPbenefitsthroughtheendofthemarketseason.
TheWashingtonPosthasatotalaudienceof90.2million.ModernFarmerwroteanar0cleaboutourstoryandwhenweshareditsar0cleonourFacebookpage,itperformedno0ceablywellwithouraudience.Overall,theFERNstorywassharedwidelyonsocialmedia,especiallyviaorganiza0onsandeduca0onalins0tu0onsfocusedonnutri0onandensuringthatallpeoplehaveaccesstohealthyfoods.ThislistincludedFairFoodNetwork,OregonFoodBank,FoodPolicyAc0on,TuwsNutri0on,andTischFoodCenter.@WaPoFood’stweetofthestoryreachednearly124,000.
InlateOctober2018,wereleasedtwostoriesonthemidtermelec0onsandtheirimpactonfarmcountry.FromthedairyfarmsofPennsylvaniaandNewYorktothecommoditygrowersintheMidwestandtheproducefieldsofCalifornia’sCentralValley,thefarm-countryvotewasverymuchinplayasthemidtermsapproached.WetookacloserlookatahandfulofconteststhatwerelikelytodeterminewhetherDemocra0cchallengersmanagedtoflipthefarmerswhohelpedelectDonaldTrump.
BrianBarthofferedasurveyofeightcloseracesinfarmcountry,howthecandidates’strategieswereplayingoutandwhatwasatstakewithtrade,immigra0on,SNAP,thefarmbill,waterrights,andethanol.Weproducedashareableinfographictogoalongwiththisstory.Inaddi0on,LeahDouglaswenttoLancasterCounty,Pennsylvania,wherefirst-0mecandidateJessKingwasswithinsingledigitsofincumbentRep.LloydSmucker(Kingeventuallylost).King’scampaign,builtondoor-to-doorvisitsandalotofpublicevents,wasswinningconvertsamongthedairyfarmersstrugglingwithlowpricesandagrowingsensethattheRepublicansthey’vealwayssupportedaremoreaboutBigAgthansmallfarmers.ThesepiecesweredistributedbyMotherJonesandNewFoodEconomy.
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Lateintheyear,wepublishedKimondeGreef’sinves0ga0onofsea-cucumbersmugglinginMorocco.Thiswasourlatest“foodcrimes”piecewithNa2onalGeographic,andprovedtobeadifficultandlengthyproject.Kimon,andphotographerWilliamDaniels,spentmanymonthstryingtofindtherightfixertogetthemaccesstopoorfishermenwhoareattheheartofthissensi0veissue.Itwasanexpensiveproject,buttheendproduct—apowerfulstoryaboutthepeoplewhosupplyaglobalblackmarket—isthekindofpiecethatFERNwascreatedtoproduce.
Na0onalGeographichas26millionmonthlyreadersonitswebsite.Italsohasamassivesocialmediafollowing,andbecauseofthat,thestoryhadextraordinaryreachandappealonTwiJer.Ourtweetofthepiecehadnearly370,000impressionsand8,400engagements.
Wefollowedthatpieceupwithaclassicdocument-driveninves0ga0on.“Scien0stswarnedthisweedkillerwoulddestroycrops.EPAapproveditanyway,”byLizaGross,detailedhowtheEPAignoreddecadesofindependentscienceandeffec0velytookMonsanto’swordthatitsnewversionofdicambawouldnotdriwofftargetanddamageneighboringcrops.ThiswasourfirstpiecewithReveal,amajornewpartnershipforinves0ga0vestories.Aradioversionwillbeoutinspring2019.
ThestorywaslinkedtobyPoli2coinitsMorningAgbriefing.Onsocialmedia,thepiecewassharedfarandwidebothbygroupsfocusedonpes0cides/publichealthissuesandpublishersandjournalistsinvolvedwithinves0ga0vesciencejournalism.SomeexamplesincludeGMWatch,GMOFreeUSA,Na0onalOrganicCoali0on,EnvironmentalIntegrityProject,CenterforEnvironmentalHealth,Pes0cideAc0onNetwork,FoodPrint,Inves2gateMidwest,NewFoodEconomy,andtheSocietyforEnvironmentalJournalism.
“HowOaklandbecamealeaderincu�ngschoolfoodwaste,”byJonathanBloom,toldthestoryofhowtheheadsustainabilityfortheOaklandUnifiedSchoolDistrictusedcompos0ng,sharetablesanddona0onstoeffec0velyeliminatefoodwaste.Thiswasastrongsolu0onsstory,publishedwithGrist,aboutaproblemthatcostsAmericanschools$5millionaday.
ThestorywasfeaturedonRedditandEnvironmentalNewsBits(wriJenandmaintainedbyLauraL.Barnes,theSustainabilityInforma0onCuratorattheIllinoisSustainableTechnologyCenter).Thepiecewassharedonsocialmediabyvariousorganiza0onsinvolvedinfoodsecurityissues,suchasFoodPrint,FairFoodNetworkandSlowFoodUSA.
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“Theairtheybreathe,”byLeahDouglas,isanotherexampleofanewsypiecethatweplacedwithMotherJones,thatexplainshowtheTrumpadministra0onanditsalliesinCongressexemptedCAFOsfromair-pollu0onmonitoring.
Thestorywasre-publishedonlinebyTheNewFoodEconomyandInves0gateMidwest.Onsocialmedia,thepiecewassharedbyFarmForwardandJohnsHopkinsCenterforaLiveableFuture.Leah’stweetforherstorygotniceengagementfromfolkslikeAnnaLappéandKCRW’sGoodFood.
“Aninvasive,elusive20-poundrodentthreatensCaliforniaagriculture,”isanotherinourongoingradioprojectwithLisaMorehouseandKCRW'sCaliforniaReport,whichhas330Klistenersinthestate.LikesomanyofLisa’sstories,thisoneblendstheoddwiththeimportant,colorfullyexplaininghowthenutria,afecund,voracious,beaver-likerodentfromSouthAmerica,istearingupcrops,burrowingintofieldsandirriga0oncanals,andgenerallymakinglifemiserableforCentralValleyfarmers.Onsocialmedia,thenutriastoryhadwidereachandappeal.Ourpostforthestoryreceivedreachedover25,000andhadover3,000engagements.
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JANUARY2018● AnunlikelyclimatecrusadeinTrumpcountry—WorldPost
FEBRUARY2018●Wasyourseafoodcaughtwithslavelabor?Newtooltriestohelpretailers.
—NPR’sTheSalt●Farmfumesareharmingourhealth.Here’swhatwecandoaboutit.—
Ensia●$40millionlater,apioneeringplantoboostwildfishstocksshowsliJle
success.—NPR’sTheSalt●Buildingabackupbee—Scien2ficAmerican●Is‘seedtotable’thenextbigfoodtrend?Onetopchefhopesso.—The
WashingtonPost
MARCH2018● Aslow-mo0oncatastrophethreatens350-year-oldfarms—TheAtlan2c
APRIL2018● Canagricultureandwildlifeco-exist?Ricefarmersthinkso.—KQED'sThe
CaliforniaReport●ThejamónwentdowntoGeorgia–Eater●Homesorgardens?—NPR’sTheSalt
MAY2018● Youarewhatyoueat—CookingLight● Syrianseedsandthefutureofwheat—YaleEnvironment360
JUNE2018● ADemocratinfarmcountryhopestoflipaconserva0veRepublicandistrict
—MotherJones● WhatisthefarmbillandwhydoesitmaJer?●Theendofthe‘pandaofthesea’—PacificStandard●CanfarmingsavePuertoRico’sfuture?—TheNa2on●Willhigh-techindooragriculturetransformlocalfood?—EdibleBrooklyn●ThisminethreatensAmerica’slargestwildsalmonrun—MotherJones
JULY2018 ● Somefoodstamprecipientsmaysoonloseaccesstofarmersmarket
benefits—TheWashingtonPost● Drinkingproblems—Harper’sMagazine● Toxicoversight—HuffPost
AUGUST2018 ● ThisliJlepiggywenttomarket…andeverythingchanged—ArkansasLife● How’sorganicfarmingfaringinthefarmbill?—NET’sOntheTable● Aweracentury’sabsence,aglimmerofpossibilityforana0veNewYork
salmon—AdirondackLife
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�17
Published Work
SEPTEMBER2018 ● Indiaisawashinpalmoil,andhealthtakesahit—TheNa2on●AyearawerHurricaneMaria,PuertoRico’sfarmersclawback—NET’sOn
theTable
OCTOBER2018●‘EveryDayYouBecomeMoreDesperate’—Weather.com ●CanJessKingflipthefarmersofLancasterCounty?●TheseraceswillmakeorbreaktheBlueWaveinfarmcountry
NOVEMBER2018●Seacucumbersarebeingeatentodeath—Na2onalGeographic●Scien0stswarnedthisweedkillerwoulddestroycrops.EPAapproveditanyway.—Reveal●HowOaklandbecamealeaderincu�ngschoolfoodwaste—Grist
DECEMBER2018●Aninvasive,elusive20-poundrodentthreatensCaliforniaagriculture—KQED'sTheCaliforniaReport●Istheeggtoast?—TheNewFoodEconomy●Theairtheybreathe—MotherJones
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�18
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�19
December 312018 2017
ASSETSCash $ 80,346 $ 120,457Unconditional promises to give 52,500 60,000Accounts receivable 8,701 8,469
Total Assets $ 141,547 $ 188,926
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSLiabilities
Accounts payable $ 34,067 $ 13,476Accrued expenses 36,344 42,780Deferred revenue 17,798 17,391Line of credit payable 45,000 -
Total Liabilities $ 133,209 $ 73,647
Net AssetsWithout donor restrictions (168,007) (54,147)With donor restrictions 176,345 169,426
Total Net Assets 8,338 115,279
Total Liabilities and Net Assets 141,547 188,926
AuditedFinancialStatementForYearEndedDecember31,2018
StatementofFinancialPosi0on
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�20
StatementofAc0vi0esandChangesinNetAssets
Year EndedDecember 31, 2018
Year EndedDecember 31, 2017
Without Donor
RestrictionsWith Donor Restrictions Total
Without Donor
RestrictionsWith Donor Restrictions Total
Revenues and Other Support Contributions $ 848,057 $ 133,327 $981,384 $ 437,261 $ 124,426 $561,687 Net assets released from restrictions 126,408 (126,408) - 155,000 (155,000) - Editorial revenue 76,650 - $76,650 79,525 - $ 79,525
Special events, gross 33,791 - $33,791 85,727 - $ 85,727 Subscription revenue 30,627 - $30,627 30,396 - $ 30,396 Other revenues 3,003 - $ 3,003 2,890 - $ 2,890
Total Revenues and Other Support 1,118,536 6,919 1,125,455 790,799 (30,574) 760,225
ExpensesProgram Services 907,368 - 907,368 792,880 - 792,880Supporting Services
Management and general 246,101 - 246,101 238,607 - 238,607Fundraising 78,927 - 78,927 56,167 - 56,167
Total Supporting Services 325,028 - 325,028 294,774 - 294,774Total Expenses 1,232,396 - 1,232,396 1,087,654 - 1,087,654
Changes in Net Assets (Deficit) (113,860) 6,919 (106,941) (296,855) (30,574) (327,429)
Net assets (deficit), beginning of year (54,147) 169,426 115,279 242,708 200,000 442,708
Net assets (deficit), end of year $ (168,007) $ 176,345 $ 8,338 $ (54,147) $ 169,426 $115,279
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�21
StatementofFunc0onalExpensesYearEndedDecember31,2018
Program Services
Management and General Fundraising Total
Payroll and related $ 381,616 $ 111,107 $ 30,727 $ 523,450Consultant fees
Special projects 179,593 3,100 - 182,693Writers 96,595 - - 96,595Editors 54,700 - 1,750 56,450Design/Development 43,379 18,955 - 62,334Communications 45,170 19,500 7,000 71,670Multimedia 35,376 - 5,850 41,226Photographer 24,672 - - 24,672
Travel and meetings 33,393 18,728 1,422 53,543Special events - 2,299 24,404 26,703Administrative and general 12,874 29,188 7,774 49,836Professional fees - 28,250 - 28,250Insurance - 14,974 - 14,974
907,368 246,101 78,927 1,232,396
StatementofFunc0onalExpensesYearEndedDecember31,2017
Program Services
Management and General Fundraising Total
Payroll and related $ 365,449 $ 116,145 $ 27,409 $ 509,003Consultant fees
Special projects 62,873 - - 62,873Writers 147,194 - - 147,194Editors 40,804 - - 40,804Design/Development 44,105 21,982 - 66,087Communications 36,399 16,000 - 52,399Multimedia 24,150 - - 24,150Photographer 31,305 - - 31,305
Travel and meetings 27,992 19,498 732 48,222Special events - 4,035 24,745 28,780Administrative and general 12,609 20,907 3,281 36,797Professional fees - 26,750 - 26,750Insurance - 13,290 - 13,290
792,880 238,607 56,167 1,087,654
Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetwork�22
Year EndedDecember 31
2018 2017CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES(Decrease) in Net Assets $ (106,941) $ (327,429)Adjustments to reconcile (decrease) in net assets to net cash from operating activities Changes in Assets and Liabilities
Decrease in unconditional promises to give 7,500 90,000(Increase) Decrease in accounts receivable (232) 9,878Increase in accounts payable 20,591 6,976(Decrease) Increase in accrued expenses (6,436) 7,732Increase in deferred revenue 407 4,687
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities (85,111) (208,156)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIESIncrease in line of credit borrowing 45,000 -
(Decrease) in Cash (40,111) (208,156)
Cash, beginning of year 120,457 328,613
Cash, end of year $ 80,346 $ 120,457
StatementofCashFlows
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Reveal
WashingtonPost
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Staff
TomLaskawy,Publisher&Execu0veDirector SamuelFromartz,Editor-in-Chief DanaDugan,AudienceEngagementEditor BrentCunningham,Execu0veEditor GeorgeBlack,Editor-at-Large ChuckAbboJ,Editor,AgInsider ElizabethRoyte,Contribu0ngEditor LeahDouglas,AssociateEditor&StaffWriter DennisChamberlin,DirectorofPhotography CourtneyEshleman,DirectorofDevelopment
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