irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $172KFAIR RESEARCHES AND ANALYZES NEWS REPORTS FOR EXAMPLES OF BIAS AND INACCURACIES. IT ALSO DOCUMENTS INSTANCES OF CORPORATE AND ADVERTISING INFLUENCE IN THE NEWS. WITH STUDIES, REPORTS AND INTERVIEWS FAIR PRESENTS FACT-BASED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC WITH ITS PRINT NEWSLETTER, WEEKLY RADIO SHOW AND WEBSITE.
- #2 $121KCOUNTERSPIN IS THE WEEKLY HALF-HOUR RADIO SHOW OF FAIR THAT BROADCASTS ON OVER 150 NON-COMMERCIAL STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE SHOW COVERS A NUMBER OF NEWS ITEMS FROM THE PAST WEEK AND THEN CONDUCTS INTERVIEWS ON TWO MAJOR NEWS STORIES BY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
CounterSpin
Weekly half-hour radio show broadcast on over 150 non-commercial stations and online, featuring interviews with experts and critical discussion of recent news coverage and media bias.
Extra! Newsletter
FAIR's monthly, ad-free newsletter providing in-depth media criticism and analysis, published ten times per year and available by subscription.
FAIR Studies
Research initiative producing reports and analyses on media bias, corporate influence, and underrepresented perspectives in news reporting.
Take Action
Activism program encouraging public engagement with journalists and media outlets to demand more responsible and inclusive reporting, supported by media contact and resource lists.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocates for diverse, inclusive, and independent media practicesChallenges corporate media bias, spin, and misinformation through public advocacy campaigns that mobilize members to contact journalists, demand corrections, and elevate underreported issues; advocates for greater diversity in newsroom representation and coverage, scrutinizes media practices that marginalize public interest, minority, and dissenting perspectives, and defends working journalists from censorship.
- Mobilizes public activism through email alerts and online engagementDistributes media criticism and Action Alerts to an international network of over 20,000 subscribers and mobilizes more than 55,000 members through an online activism program to engage with journalists and advocate for responsible media practices.
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 2 activities
- Conducts research on media bias, ownership, and news representationConducts in-depth research and analysis of news reports to identify corporate influence, bias, inaccuracies, and underrepresentation of marginalized viewpoints, including quantitative studies on media framing, ownership structures, and economic influences on journalism; publishes findings in reports, studies, and media literacy resources such as 'How to Detect Bias in News Media'.
- Produces media criticism content through newsletter and radio programmingProduces and distributes Extra!, a bi-monthly print and digital newsletter focused on media criticism, and CounterSpin, a weekly syndicated radio program aired on over 150 non-commercial stations and online, featuring analysis of news coverage and expert interviews on major stories.
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Paid Internships in Media & Publishing 1 activity
- Provides capacity-building opportunities in media analysis and communicationsOffers paid internships each semester to train students and emerging professionals in writing, research, communications, and media analysis, contributing to field-wide skill development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$551K
Contributions & grants$498K90%
Program service revenue$32K6%
Investment income$18K3%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$629K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$444K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$803K
Cash$148K
Investments$525K
Liabilities$151K
Net assets$651K
Liquid reserves12.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +24.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARL GROSSMAN | SECRETARY | 1 | $600 |
| ROBIN ANDERSEN | MEMBER | 1 | $600 |
board members · 3
- HOLLIE AINBINDER — MEMBER
- ROBERT W MCCHESNEY — MEMBER (DECEASED-MARCH 25, 2025)
- WILLIAM HOYNES — PRESIDENT
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Accuracy In Media Partner — Positioned as a contrasting organization to FAIR, with FAIR offering progressive media criticism in opposition to AIM's right-wing media monitoring.
- CNN Partner — Subject of FAIR's study on coverage of Los Angeles anti-ICE protests.
- DMAC Choice Partner — Provides a link for subscribers to stop receiving direct mail through DMAC Choice.
- FAIR Government — Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, Inc. (FAIR) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with federal tax-exempt ID 13-3392362.
- FAIR Government — Recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status; tax-exempt ID number 13-3392362.
- Free Press Network — Robert W. McChesney, FAIR board member, is president and co-founder of Free Press, a national media reform organization.
- Jeff Cohen Partner — Founder of FAIR and author of the article "What’s FAIR?"
- Julie Hollar Partner — Primary contact for internship applications and inquiries.
- Laura Flanders Show Partner — Collaborates on media analysis and activism through interviews and shared content.
- New York Times Partner — Subject of FAIR's analysis on trans coverage and reporting on sexual violence in Israel/Palestine.
- New York Times Partner — Subject of FAIR's media criticism and advocacy campaigns.
- Snopes Partner — Subject of FAIR's media criticism and advocacy campaigns.
- Washington Post Partner — Subject of FAIR's media criticism and advocacy campaigns.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Data-Driven Media Criticismmethodology: data-driven media criticismBy using quantitative analysis and rigorous documentation to critique media content, FAIR strengthens the credibility of media criticism and challenges bias because empirical evidence makes critiques more persuasive and harder to dismiss as subjective opinion.
- Grassroots Media Accountabilitymethodology: grassroots-media-advocacyBy mobilizing the public to engage directly with journalists through organized campaigns and email alerts, FAIR promotes more responsible reporting because sustained public pressure can shift media narratives and expand space for marginalized voices.
- Independent Media Funding Modelmethodology: independent_funding_modelBy relying on public support and avoiding corporate advertising and funding, FAIR maintains editorial independence because financial autonomy prevents external influence and enables critical reporting on powerful institutions.
- Pluralistic Inclusion Through Critical Media Literacymethodology: critical_media_literacyBy training individuals, especially from underrepresented groups, in media analysis and participatory research, FAIR builds a more inclusive media ecosystem because empowering diverse voices as media critics expands the range of perspectives and challenges dominant narratives.
- Structural Media Reformmethodology: structural-media-reformBy advocating for systemic changes such as breaking up media conglomerates, expanding non-profit and public broadcasting, and reducing corporate control, FAIR aims to create a more democratic and pluralistic media landscape because concentrated ownership undermines diverse and critical perspectives.