Aspen Journalism

Mission

Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, reader-funded newsroom providing communities in the Roaring Fork watershed and upper Colorado River basin with independent, investigative, data-driven reporting on complex issues of water, environment, social justice and history — coverage that is unique in our local media landscape.

About our journalism

We believe well-informed citizens make better decisions; good journalism sustains both community and democracy; investigative reporting spurs needed reform, and well-written stories are an efficient and effective way to reach engaged citizens.

Our model as a nonprofit, reader-supported local newsroom was pioneered in 2011 by Aspen Journalism’s founder, Brent Gardner-Smith, directly inspired by his work with ProPublica. Implemented to ensure local communities have dedicated journalists with editorial independence, this civic benefit is funded by philanthropic, community, and public funds, sustaining AJs growing award-winning team of in-house and freelance journalists. We produce journalism that is unique to our local media landscape, with our collaborative model allows us to reach communities through the availability of our work to regional media outlets.