San Antonio’s local news landscape has undergone a significant change with the merger of Texas Public Radio (TPR) and the San Antonio Report. The two nonprofit news outlets have combined their resources to form the largest nonprofit newsroom in San Antonio’s history.

Background

TPR, an independent nonprofit media organization, was established in 1988 and serves San Antonio and surrounding communities. The San Antonio Report, founded in 2012 as the Rivard Report, is a digital news outlet that covers local news and topics such as politics, business, education, and health.

The merger, announced in May, aims to improve efficiencies and enhance local news coverage. The combined newsroom will have a staff of over 30 reporters, making it the largest nonprofit newsroom in San Antonio.

Leadership and Operations

Ashley Alvarado, president and CEO of TPR, will lead the merged organization. Leigh Munsil, former editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Report, will serve as senior vice president for news and editor-in-chief. The San Antonio Report’s staff will become TPR employees, and the two newsrooms will continue to publish news and feature stories on their individual online sites while sharing content across platforms.

The merger has received positive responses from the local funding community, with $1.4 million in contributions secured to support the combined operation. The annual combined operating budget will be $10 million.

Impact and Future Plans

The merger comes at a time when Texas ranks 47th nationwide for the density of journalists based on population. The combined newsroom aims to address this issue by providing more comprehensive local news coverage. Plans are underway to integrate the two newsrooms, with a focus on enhancing online presence, newsletters, and community events.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.