Just over three years ago, The Tributary was officially incorporated with a mission to strengthen the local news ecosystem by investigating entrenched problems and proposed solutions in our community. The problem was urgent: Our first-of-its-kind research showed a cratering number of journalists serving Northeast Florida – and a limited public understanding of the problem. Read the latest update here.
Today, with the enthusiastic support from everyday readers and philanthropic institutions, our small but mighty team has increased the availability of news in the public interest, focusing on stories that would otherwise go uncovered. The Tributary’s original investigative journalism has changed policy and lives:
- When Sheriff Mike Williams quietly moved out of Duval County, violating the city charter, it was The Tributary that broke the story. The revelation sparked a political firestorm, ultimately forcing Williams to resign.
- Then, the Tributary tackled racial gerrymandering in Jacksonville City Council districts. The reporting laid bare how district lines reduced Black voting power, providing crucial evidence for a lawsuit that made it to federal court. The result? A judge ordered new districts drawn, reshaping the city’s political map and amplifying Black voices in local government.
- Meanwhile, behind the walls of Duval County Jail, an unseen crisis was brewing. The Tributary’s deep dive into jail conditions exposed a healthcare system in shambles. That reporting led to the cancellation of a $98-million contract. More importantly, it’s saving lives – with a new provider and more money spent on inmate care, jail deaths in 2024 are on track to drop from the previous year’s toll.
- The Tributary covered the Jacksonville City Council and Duval County School Board elections, conducting exhaustive background checks on every candidate. This rigorous vetting process, inspired by the shock waves of the George Santos scandal in Congress, aimed to arm voters with crucial information and safeguard local government from potential deceit.
And we’re just getting started. Today, on International Day of Democracy, The Tributary pledges to expand our reporting on critical topics and continue making those stories available to all.
The Tributary is among 140 newsrooms banding together to collectively report on the ways democracy works — and isn’t working — at the federal and local levels in the U.S. It’s all part of the International Day of Democracy, which was created in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly to encourage its member countries to strengthen and celebrate democracy.
Some of The Tributary’s contributions to this effort include:
- Rigorous Coverage of Redistricting Battles: The Tributary remains at the forefront of reporting on redistricting lawsuits challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to eliminate protections for racial minorities. This week’s dispatch from Tallahassee offers readers an inside look at these crucial legal proceedings and their potential impact on fair representation.
- Innovative Voter Engagement Tools: We developed a county-by-county turnout tracker, first deployed in August and set to continue through November’s races. This tool allows voters to monitor participation trends in real time, fostering greater civic engagement.
- Demystifying Tallahassee: Recognizing the complexity of state politics, The Tributary is developing new tools designed to bridge the gap between voters and their state government. These resources will help Floridians better understand and engage with the legislative process in Tallahassee.
The U.S. Democracy Day journalism collaborative was launched January 2022 by a tweet from Rachel Glickhouse that wondered aloud about the role newsrooms have in sustaining and defending democracy.
“We have to be better at holding would-be authoritarians and anti-democratic leaders accountable and really holding their feet to the fire,” wrote Glickhouse, who manages editorial partnerships for the environmental reporting outlet Grist.
“Our role in local news and our reporting is essential to the success of our democracy,” said Kristyn Wellesley, a U.S. Democracy Day advisor and senior editor for audience development and engagement at the MediaNews Group. “Our coverage allows citizens to hold their elected officials accountable.”
The Tributary was founded with a vision for an information-rich society where well-informed citizens strengthen our democracy. We’ve made big strides, but there’s still work to be done with the help of our readers.
Today only, NewsMatch will double contributions to The Tributary dollar-for-dollar. If you believe public-interest journalism is essential to a democracy, please become a monthly supporter or make a one-time gift to celebrate with us today.
If you have ideas, tips, or suggestions for coverage that improves our democracy, please reach out. We look forward to hearing from you and to serving you during this important time in our community, state, and country.
Andrew Pantazi is Founding Editor of The Tributary. Deirdre Conner is Publisher of The Tributary. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
————This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
