In September 2026, the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit newsroom Public Source looked back on a decade-and-a-half of investigative work. The milestone coincided with a fresh fundraising push aimed at raising $15,000 by the end of the month. Staff members, many of whom have been with the outlet since its early days, gathered their memories, celebrated key projects, and sketched a roadmap for the next decade.
Founded in 2011, Public Source began with a handful of reporters dedicated to deep-dive, fact-checked stories about southwestern Pennsylvania. Six months after the launch, a young reporter named Halle Stockton left a Southwest Florida newspaper to become the outlet’s third employee. Today, Halle serves as editor-in-chief and co-executive director, guiding a team of fifteen full-time staff members.
Growth from a three-person office to a fifteen-member newsroom
Beyond Halle, several early hires have become the backbone of the organization. Natasha Khan arrived as a reporter in 2013 and now steers audience development and visual strategy. Jennie Ewing Liska first served on the board a decade ago; she now shares co-executive duties, shaping business operations. Rich Lord joined as managing editor in January 2020, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic forced the outlet to balance its traditional investigative depth with rapid, community-focused reporting.
Charlie Wolfson who began covering local government in 2021, highlighted the newsroom’s embrace of new distribution channels. Instagram reels, newsletters, and a YouTube presence now deliver stories to thousands who might never have encountered the print version. Alyia Paulding director of membership and development since 2020, emphasized the importance of reliable information during uncertain times, promising to keep the newsroom fearless and honest.
Signature projects and collaborative partnerships
Among the many investigations, the 2017 “I am a Black girl and…” series stands out for Halle as a turning point. The multipart endeavor combined rigorous accountability reporting with high-school outreach, ultimately serving as a blueprint for future storytelling. It also sparked an internal training program on bias awareness and source representation, lessons that still shape editorial decisions.
Natasha recalls the 2021 Red Zone project, which examined the spike in campus sexual assaults leading up to Thanksgiving. The series paired powerful photography by Stephanie Strasburg with personal narratives, earning accolades for its empathetic yet data-driven approach.
Public Source’s impact extends beyond its own bylines. In 2019, the outlet partnered with six newsrooms across five states to produce the Good River series, documenting the Ohio River watershed’s past, present, and future. Ongoing collaborations with 90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh City Paper, and the Associated Press have yielded co-reported pieces on housing, education, and the 2025 Clairton blast.
Non-editorial alliances have also enriched the newsroom. A joint photojournalism event with the Silver Eye Center for Photography sparked lively debates on image selection. Work with Define American produced a multilingual privacy-rights card, and a partnership with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Library has generated a steady stream of community-submitted zines.
Looking ahead: vision, fundraising, and democratic impact
Looking ten years forward, Jennie envisions Public Source as the go-to source for every borough and municipality, helping residents solve local challenges and celebrate neighborly stories. Alyia adds that the region faces looming difficulties, making accurate reporting more vital than ever.
Halle frames local journalism as essential democratic infrastructure. She argues that a healthy democracy depends on citizens understanding who represents them, how decisions are made, and where public money flows. By delivering transparent, fact-checked stories, Public Source aims to keep civic engagement alive at the neighborhood level.
The newsroom’s transparency extends to its own operations. Donor information exceeding $1,000 is publicly listed, and a three-tier fact-checking system has been in place since 2012. An explicit AI-usage policy and open-republishing rights further underscore its commitment to accountability.
With the anniversary campaign nearing its deadline, the staff urges readers to contribute. Reaching the $15,000 target will fund continued investigative work, expand digital platforms, and support the partnerships that have become a hallmark of the organization’s model.
