WASHINGTON (June 6, 2019) - Today we are launching the only news site dedicated exclusively to covering the community of people and organizations seeking to improve American democracy.
The Fulcrum is a hub of original reporting, coverage from around the country, opinion and more for readers seeking to learn about efforts to strengthen American democracy.
The Fulcrum is staffed by award-winning journalists who report on the efforts to make our democratic republic less tribal, our elections more competitive, our politicians less beholden to moneyed interests, and our officials more attentive to real evidence in policy-making so Congress may become more effective, ethical and civil.
The Fulcrumfollows these issues exclusively, like no other news site. We track efforts to help government be more responsive to the Americans who want these changes. Our team decodes behaviors threatening (or protecting) the principles of the Constitution. Most importantly, we explain how you can get involved and why our democracy depends on it.
"We're thrilled to launch The Fulcrum during this time of intense interest in fixing our country's political system," says Publisher and Executive Editor David Meyers, who previously held a number of senior roles at CQ Roll Call. "The data clearly shows that people care about these issues and through The Fulcrum we will help them better understand what is happening, who is doing the work and how to better connect."
The Fulcrum's nonpartisan political reform coverage began in December 2018 with the email newsletter known as The Firewall. Its popularity has grown, and it is now available under The Fulcrum brand, as well as our robust website filled with the latest reform-related news and opinion pieces from leaders of the reform movement. The readership includes reformers, philanthropists, reporters, editors and the general public.
While rooting for the political system to strengthen, The Fulcrum's journalistic role is to bring a clear and unbiased eye to the debates. Doing so requires freedom from partisanship and journalistic independence from those supporting our mission. So while we are incubated by Issue One, which describes itself as "the leading cross-partisan political reform group in Washington," we are editorially independent of Issue One and its funders.
"American democracy has become fundamentally challenged since I started covering D.C. 30 years ago, decoding policy and politics for voters," says Editor in Chief David Hawkings, most recently senior editor at CQ Roll Call. "I'm passionate about the need for more clear-eyed, unbiased reporting that boosts understanding of the dysfunction that is threatening our collective future. We're working together to illuminate the efforts to help our government serve the people."
The Fulcrum was conceptualized by Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman who says, "Across the country, Americans are more eager than ever to fix our broken political system. The Fulcrum will highlight the people, organizations, and efforts that are doing this work. Renewing our republic for the next generation requires all hands on deck, and the Fulcrum will be the destination site for change-makers working to strengthen our democracy. Issue One has been proud to conceive and sponsor this project. We look forward to seeing it flourish under the leadership of veteran political journalists David Meyers and David Hawkings."
The Fulcrum is funded by the Hewlett Foundation, the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, Arnold Ventures and the Lizzie and Jonathan M. Tisch Foundation.
You're invited to visit our new website, and subscribe to our newsletter, on TheFulcrum.US.
Please connect with us:
David Hawkings has been a reporter, editor and columnist focused on the policies, politics and people of Congress for three decades. Most recently he was the senior editor of CQ Roll Call, wrote the "Hawkings Here" column, and hosted a series of videos and podcasts dubbed "Roll Call Decoder." He is a regular guest on Fox News, Federal News Radio and Newsy and has appeared as an analyst on CNN, MSNBC and NPR. Follow David Hawkings on Twitter.
David Meyers has spent the past two decades immersed in political media. He was most recently vice president of business operations for CQ Roll Call, and prior to that was the organization's vice president of research and content development. Meyers served as director of StateTrack, managing editor for Roll Call, and ran the day-to-day newsroom operations and led development of RollCall.com. He served as president of the Washington Press Club Foundation from July 2013 through June 2015. Follow David Meyers on Twitter.
Nick Penniman is the founder and CEO of Issue One, the leading cross-partisan political reform group in Washington that unites Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system. He co-authored "Nation on the Take" in 2016 and was previously the founder and executive director of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund, Washington director of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy and publisher of Washington Monthly.CONTACT:
Jessica Puchala
jessicapuchala@thefulcrum.us
(202) 914-1668
Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén. (U.S. Army)
The 20th Fighter Wing courtroom at Shaw Air Force Base includes a jury box, witness stand, and gallery, and is used for courts-martial and other military legal proceedings. (Airman 1st Class Daniel Blackwell/U.S. Air Force)
