John Thornton, a financier and founder of The Texas Tribune and the American Journalism Project, passed away at 59 due to suicide after a long battle with mental health. He reshaped local journalism with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit model that started in 2009, growing from 11 staff members to over 50 covering all Texas counties. He aimed to replicate this successful model nationwide with the American Journalism Project, initiated in 2019. His efforts sought to address the decline of local news and ensure accountability in government, yet his death underscores the mental health challenges faced by many in the industry.
John Thornton transformed local journalism by founding The Texas Tribune and the American Journalism Project, pioneering sustainable models for digital newsrooms against a backdrop of decline in legacy media.
His death by suicide highlights the often-hidden struggles that accompany high-pressure missions like reviving local journalism, emphasizing the need for mental health awareness within this demanding sector.
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