The document discusses challenges facing media and civic engagement in Texas, including a decline in statewide issues coverage from fewer newspapers and staff, and increasing polarization. Voter turnout is lower and the generational makeup is shifting as the state grows more diverse. The Texas Tribune nonprofit news organization aims to address these issues by informing residents about public policy and engaging them in discussion.

1. ISOJ
04.15.16
@evanasmith
@texastribune

2. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

3. “The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit,
nonpartisan media organization that
informs Texans — and engages with them
— about public policy, politics and
statewide issues.”
@evanasmith
@texastribune

4. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

5. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

6. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

7. Texas: Even Our News is Bigger
@evanasmith
@texastribune

11. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

14. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

15. Percent of Texas Population by Age Group
and Ethnicity, 2000
39.5
41.6
45.0 45.0
43.1 44.4
47.8
53.0
57.2
60.2
63.5
66.4 67.1
72.6
44.0
41.3
38.0 38.4
40.5
38.6
35.3
30.5
26.7
24.2
22.4
20.6 20.3
16.7
<
5
years
5
to
9
years
10
to
14
years
15
to
19
years
20
to
24
years
25
to
29
years
30
to
34
years
35
to
39
years
40
to
44
years
45
to
49
years
50
to
54
years
55
to
59
years
60
to
64
years
65
+
years
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
Percent
Anglo Hispanic
Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University

16. Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University

17. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

18. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

19. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

20. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

21. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

22. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

23. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

24. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

25. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

26. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

27. * Decline in coverage of statewide issues
* Fewer papers
* Fewer people
* Fewer pages
* Bigger problems
* Decline in engagement
* Low voter turnout
* Generation gap
* Increase in partisanship
* Politics is more divisive
* Media is more of an echo chamber

28. AUDIENCE GROWTH
749,000
2015
All referral sources (search,
social, third-party, email) are
up. Social referrals are up
108% over the same period
last year; mobile FB referrals
have grown 215% YOY
1.056M
2016
Average monthly uniques: Q1
Referrals Stickiness
+41%
We’ve grown in most regions in
Texas (including Austin) but
particularly outside of Austin:
We’re up 66% in sessions
from users in Houston and
up 102% in Dallas.
Geographic diversity
37%
1 PV
3%
6+ PVs
28%
2-5 PVs

29. “The poster child for revenue diversity”
— Nieman Journalism Lab
@evanasmith
@texastribune

30. ALL-TIME ACTUALS
Major Gifts — Individuals $8,917,379
Major Gifts — Foundations $7,994,720
Membership $3,707,009
Corporate Sponsorship $6,694,494
Events $6,361,186
“Earned” $1,965,741
TOTAL REVENUE $35,640,529

31. 2016 BUDGET
Major Gifts — Individuals $1,100,000
Major Gifts — Foundations $1,375,000
Membership $740,000
Corporate Sponsorship $1,575,000
Events $1,700,000
“Earned” $280,000
TOTAL REVENUE $6,770,000

32. Thank you.
@evanasmith
@texastribune