The 51st

Mission

The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit news source for D.C. We believe that all D.C. residents deserve a more equitable and just place to live, and our reporting is rooted in our conviction that local journalism is meant to make people’s lives better. We pursue stories that hold leaders accountable, demystify opaque city and civic processes, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that make us proud to call D.C. home. Put simply, our mission is to make it easier – and more fun — to live in the District.

About our journalism

The 51st was co-founded by six former DCist and WAMU employees. In February 2024, WAMU executives shut down the DCist website, laying off 16 talented journalists and other staff — and wiping years of D.C. history from the internet.

As we watched our former workplace join a growing list of news outlets shut down by a unilateral decision of C-suites, a team of alumni started asking questions: What if a newsroom was run by…the people in the newsroom? What if journalists could pursue stories that truly engage with the community’s needs? In July 2024, we launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to make The 51st a sustainable, worker-led nonprofit – and we’ve been growing ever since.

We prioritize coverage that explains how the District works and how to navigate it, reporting that boldly holds bad actors to account, articles that highlights the affordability crisis impacting people throughout the city, and stories that celebrate the food, music, and idiosyncrasies that residents love.

We believe that all D