Jack's Journal - September 2020
Nonprofit Journalism – an Interview with CT Mirror Publisher Bruce Putterman
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO

In the December 2019 edition of TANGO TRENDS, I wrote a piece welcoming the Connecticut Mirror to the membership at TANGO. If you are not familiar with the Mirror, it is an online tax-exempt “newspaper” that qualifies for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3). Here is a link to its Website: https://ctmirror.org/
Nonprofit journalism has emerged in a big way over the last 15 or 20 years as technology and societal changes have made print journalism on a for-profit basis very difficult to sustain.
My perspective on the trendlines is that print for-profit newspaper journalism will continue its decline. When it comes to local and regional news, opening upmarket space for nonprofit publications to see if they can fill in the gap.
What I particularly like about nonprofit journalism is the fact that organizations cannot qualify under Section 501(c)(3), unless they operate on a completely disinterested basis free from the commercialism that feeds off politics.
TANGO is committed to supporting nonprofit journalism generally, and the Connecticut Mirror specifically. I will be writing articles for both the Mirror and for TANGO trends in which I explore the applicable tax law and financing models to see if we can assist both.
To this end, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Bruce Putterman, the publisher of the Mirror, and we took our time to reflect on these fast-paced developments. You can watch the video below.
In the meantime, please consider enrolling to receive the Mirror in your email and also consider making regular contributions to help it defray its expenses.
More From TANGO
Key Unemployment Tax Updates & Savings Opportunities
Social media updates emerge on a near daily basis regarding the freeze or cancellation of government funding and the weaponization of the IRS through legislation (for example, HR 9495) or executive action to target the tax-exempt status of certain nonprofits.
The Bridge Family Center Membership Showcase May 2025
Our Mission is to foster the courage and strength in children and families to meet life’s challenges and build fulfilling lives.
May 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster
I want to thank the TANGO community (members and partners) for all you do to make our world a better place. I created TANGO to corral support for the sector. We will hit 2000 nonprofit members any day now, a growing community for sure! So, thank you again for all you do to improve things for the next generation to come…whenever that may be!
CONTACT
TANGO
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO – The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity
135 South Road
Farmington, CT 06032
877-708-2646
tangoalliance.org