Disability Rights South Dakota: A Steadfast Voice for Inclusion

The Fulcrum is joining forces with Independent Voter News (IVN) and the Latino News Network (LNN) in a new collaboration designed to strengthen voter‑first journalism at a moment when trust in institutions continues to erode. The partnership brings together three organizations committed to elevating civic engagement, expanding access to reliable information, and ensuring that communities — particularly those historically marginalized or underserved — have the tools they need to participate fully in our democracy.

David Nevins, Publisher of The Fulcrum, said the alliance reflects a shared commitment to centering people rather than parties in the national conversation. “Our democracy depends on journalism that informs rather than divides, and that treats every voter as someone whose voice matters. By partnering with IVN and LNN, we’re expanding our collective ability to deliver the kind of nonpartisan, voter‑first reporting the country urgently needs.”

The collaboration also builds on the long‑standing mission of the Latino News Network to serve multilingual and multicultural audiences with community‑rooted reporting. Hugo Balta — Executive Editor of The Fulcrum and Publisher of LNN — will play a central role in identifying intersections between the three publications to maximize shared opportunities, strengthen coverage, and deepen reporting that reflects the lived experiences of diverse communities. Balta has emphasized that "democracy is strongest when every community is informed, engaged, and empowered," and this partnership expands that mission at a critical moment for the nation.

IVN echoed the shared purpose behind the alliance, underscoring that the work is fundamentally about strengthening the public square and ensuring voters can access information free from partisan framing. Together, the three organizations will collaborate on shared reporting, cross‑platform publishing, civic‑education initiatives, and expanded coverage of underrepresented voters, including Latino, independent, and other communities often overlooked in traditional political reporting. The partnership will deepen reporting on voting access, disinformation, election administration, and reforms such as nonpartisan primaries — issues central to the health of the democratic process.

At a time when polarization continues to shape national discourse, the partnership is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: voters deserve journalism that puts them first. The Fulcrum, IVN, and LNN will work together to expand coverage that informs rather than inflames, empowers rather than divides, and strengthens the civic fabric that binds communities across the country.