Knowledge is Power

The Power of Free Local Press in Montana

We support Montana Free Press and The Pulp because their independent, public-service journalism strengthens democracy and informs Missoula and communities across the state. - High Stakes Foundation

Knowledge is power, especially during these high-stakes times. In Montana, where vast distances and perspectives separate communities, independent journalism plays a crucial role in keeping citizens informed. The Pulp and Montana Free Press are two leading news outlets dedicated to investigative, community-driven reporting. Thanks to support from readers and the High Stakes Foundation, they’ve expanded their reach, ensuring Montanans have access to free, in-depth journalism.

Montana Free Press focuses on government accountability, environmental policy, and rural affairs, providing fact-based reporting on issues that directly impact Montana’s future. The foundation’s funding has helped expand their newsroom, allowing more coverage of critical topics like land use, water rights, and political transparency.

Meanwhile, The Pulp takes a storytelling approach, covering cultural movements, social justice, and grassroots activism. Its free-to-access mode ensures that all Montanans—regardless of income—can stay informed.

Both outlets have driven real change. Investigations by Montana Free Press have led to policy discussions on land conservation, while The Pulp’s features on affordable housing have sparked local action. In an era where corporate media often overlooks rural voices, the High Stakes Foundation’s commitment to funding independent journalism ensures that Montana’s stories continue to be told—by Montanans, for Montanans.

In their own words

Message from The Pulp

"On the importance of a free press, what we’re experiencing right now — rampant misinformation, distrust, polarization, eroded transparency and accountability, etc. — is directly connected to journalism’s decline. And while it’s a national issue, I think the void that’s been created is the sum of local journalism slowly losing its capacity to foster public discourse, empathy and community connection. So here at The Pulp, part of our mission is to advance transparency, equity and democracy, and as lofty as that may seem for a small startup, or really any local news organization, we really believe that it’s local journalism we need to reinvent. We need to develop models that allow it to thrive, here and everywhere.

That’s why it’s so meaningful that The Pulp, as we learned a couple weeks ago, is a finalist for this year's Future of Local Journalism Award, and that we won LION Publishers’ New Business of the Year award last fall. It shows that our work here in Missoula — however we’re succeeding in building an audience, generating revenue and publishing good local journalism — can inform how organizations are launched and sustained in communities around the country. At the same time, all we want is for this organization to serve and reflect Missoula, and for our journalism to be engaging and interesting. It can’t all be vegetables, you know?

We’re figuring it out. It’s all about the community’s buy-in. Building a donor base takes time. That’s why we’re so grateful to have the High Stakes Foundation as a supporter and partner. More than anyone they’ve helped lay the runway as we build this thing. They understand the realities of launching a nonprofit, and they understand the importance of this work — here in Missoula and far beyond."

Mission: The Pulp’s mission is to produce in-depth journalism that informs and engages the people of Missoula and western Montana and advances transparency, equity, and democracy.

The Pulp

Message from the Montana Free Press

"With the decline of journalism — including the shuttering of newsrooms, layoffs of journalists, and the rise of partisan outlets disseminating misinformation and disinformation — our country’s democracy is at risk of crumbling.

Montana Free Press is a bright light despite this decline. We’re an innovative, nonpartisan, public-powered news organization dedicated to reaching and serving the information needs of all Montanans. We've become the state’s leading nonprofit, digital news source, with a rapidly expanding readership and a newsroom that continues to evolve to meet the growing demand for community-based, nonpartisan journalism. With a full-time staff of dedicated reporters and collaborations with other media outlets across Montana, we strive to ensure that every corner of our state receives the news coverage it deserves.

We don’t tell our readers how to think; we engage, listen and provide the tools to make informed decisions by producing independent, high-quality reporting that is free and accessible to everyone.

Founded in 2016, Montana Free Press has grown from a one-person newsroom into a statewide news organization of 23 award-winning reporters, editors and business staff. We are proud of our track record of in-depth reporting on complex issues — from energy policy to public health to tribal affairs — and our commitment to making this journalism accessible to all Montanans, free of charge.

High Stakes has been with Montana Free Press since the beginning. Their generous support has truly been instrumental in our growth and success, in addition to helping us secure the support of other Montana foundations. We’re incredibly grateful for their belief in our mission and their role in helping sustain a free press in Montana."

Mission: Montana Free Press is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom dedicated to producing in-depth public-service journalism that holds power accountable, illuminates critical issues, and empowers Montanans with information that drives positive change.

Montana Free Press