Food & Environment Reporting Network

2018 Annual Report

MISSIONSTATEMENT

TheFood&EnvironmentRepor2ngNetwork(FERN)isthefirstandonlyindependent,

non-profit,non-par2sannewsorganiza2onthatproducesexplanatoryandinves2ga2ve

repor2ngonfood,agriculture,andenvironmentalhealththroughpublica2onpartnershipswithrespectedlocaland

na2onalmediaoutlets.

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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

OurPublishingPartners

AdirondackLife

ArkansasLife

TheAtlan2c

CookingLight

Eater

Ea2ngWell

EdibleBrooklyn

Ensia

Grist

Harper’sMagazine

HuffPost

KQED’sTheCaliforniaReport

MotherJones

TheNa2on

Na2onalGeographic

NET(Nebraskapublicradio)

TheNewFoodEconomy

NPR’sTheSalt

PacificStandard

Scien2ficAmerican

Reveal

WashingtonPost

TheWeatherChannel

WorldPost

YaleEnvironment360

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

Board

JoanneKelley,BoardChair NathanielBrown,TreasurerAileenBurdick LorraineFontanes SamuelFromartz,Secretary DanPullmanSusanWestLeslieWilliams

MajorFoundaGonSupporters:

The11thHourProjectWoodcockFounda0onMcKnightFounda0onJoyceandIrvingGoldmanFounda0onGRACEFounda0onCaliforniaEndowmentBroadReachFundNellNewmanFounda0on

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