Our Eligibility Guidelines

How we developed our guidelines

ProJourn’s eligibility guidelines are similar for nonprofit and for-profit entities. ProJourn will use this framework of guidelines, and eligibility will be decided on a case-by-case basis, with participating law firms also screening cases according to their own policies and hitting against their conflicts database.

One of the most important components of running a pro bono program includes establishing and enforcing eligibility guidelines. Not only should the program help in-need and at-risk communities access the justice system meaningfully, but also it is important not to cannibalize law firms’ paid work by accepting clients to the program that otherwise would have the funds to pay for legal advice.

ProJourn’s current eligibility guidelines encourage inquiries from newsrooms that are independently owned, community-focused, located near news deserts and can’t afford to pay legal fees. Please note that, due to high demand, ProJourn is prioritizing local and community news organizations. We consider a ”community” to include groups of people who interact, share a common geographical area, interest, culture, or identity.

To determine financial need, ProJourn will ask for financial information and will confirm news organizations haven’t paid significant fees for similar services in the past 12 months. (If they did, ProJourn will assess whether these news outlets’ circumstances have dramatically changed.)

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Our requirements are as follows

For News Outlets

  • Be legally incorporated in the U.S. or fiscally sponsored by a U.S. nonprofit organization for at least one year, and be willing to share financial information with ProJourn as part of the application and screening process.
  • Use a recognized code of ethics or create their own Stand for accuracy, independence, fairness, transparency, truthfulness.
  • Nonprofit news outlets must comply with 501(c)(3) requirements, such as governance standards and lobbying restrictions. They must reveal major donors.
  • For-profit news outlets must be independently owned, i.e., not primarily or majority-owned by a publicly-traded company, newspaper chain, hedge fund, or private equity firm and/or political or religious institution.

For Independent Journalists

  • Be based in the U.S.
  • Use a recognized code of ethics or create their own Stand for accuracy, independence, fairness, transparency, truthfulness.
  • Have a proven track record (e.g., links to previous publications or awards)