• by Ray Schultz , April 18, 2024

CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization serving California, has acquired The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom that covers AI developments and tech regulation coming out of the state. 

The terms were not disclosed. 

The Markup provides data-driven investigative reporting, guides for the public and tools like Blacklight, a privacy inspector that readers have used to conduct over 13 million website scans.

“Pairing our proven methodology with CalMatters’ deep expertise will deliver unparalleled investigative journalism in California, and serve as an example nationwide,” says Nabiha Syed, CEO of The Markup.

The combined team will include CalMatters CEO Neil Chase and Kristen Go, editor in chief.

Sisi Wei will switch from her role as editor in chief of The Markup to take on the new title of chief impact officer. Wei will apply The Markup’s journalistic approach to accelerate all of CalMatters’ work, the newsrooms say. 

Syed will serve a strategic advisor until she takes a new external role on July 1.

“I’m thrilled to see these two strong national and local newsrooms coming together with capabilities that complement each other so well,” says Kathy Im, Director of the Journalism and Media program at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which supports The Markup.