The San Antonio Report was something that started with so little: a vision and a dream. Now, 13 years later, “people rely on it and count on it” says Bob Rivard.
Rivard reflected on the beginnings of the news organization during the latest podcast episode of “bigcitysmalltown.” When it was first formed in 2012 as the Rivard Report, it was a blog by Rivard and his wife Monika Maeckle. Rivard retired two years ago and the organization was renamed.
At the time it started there were maybe 30 such newsrooms in the country. Today, there are over 450 nonprofit newsrooms.
San Antonio Report Publisher Angie Mock and Editor in Chief Leigh Munsil chatted with Rivard about the state of local journalism and its future in San Antonio.
Rivard mentioned politics reporter Andrea Drusch’s recent coverage of the city’s mayoral race, including the lottery drawing of their positions on the May 3 ballot, and the hiring of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ken Rodriguez, who is covering culinary features such as the story behind the Facebook group San Antonio Restaurants.
Munsil says all of the reporters in the newsroom are covering what’s going on at the Texas Legislature and changes under the new presidential administration.
“The job of a journalist is to demystify complicated moments to find what’s actually going on and to tell the story of real people affected by policy changes,” Munsil said.
The San Antonio Report has no paywall, which means its stories are free for everyone to access. But that kind of quality, in-depth local news takes monetary support from the community, Mock says.
“There’s no minimum to join. You can join for $5 a month or $150 or whatever. We want this news to be available to all,” she said. “We rely on the community’s support to keep us going each and every day.”
