The “Alma Mater” statue in front of Low Library at the Columbia University campus image : InSapphoWeTrust on Flickr

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark has continued his grants in the journalism field, with a $10 million gift to the Columbia Journalism School and $5 million to the Poynter Institute. Newmark has previously donated $20 million to the journalism graduate school at the City University of New York (CUNY) named after him and $20 million to tech-focused news startup The Markup.

The $10 million gift to Columbia will endow the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security and the Craig Newmark Professorship, which it will work as “an accelerant by conducting groundbreaking research and providing students and practicing journalists with resources on safe and trustworthy reporting.”, according to a press release from Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark image : Scott Beale / Laughing Squid

On the other hand, the $5 million gifted to the Florida based journalism school, Poynter Institute, will go towards the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, providing journalists with relevant training and continued education. The Center which says it aims to be the “industry ombudsman”, will be led by Poynter senior vice president Kelly Mcbride who will be named the Craig Newmark Ethics Chair. Newmark has previously donated $1 million to the Poynter Institute and serves as a member of the Poynter Foundation board.

“Craig Newmark’s generosity will provide an enduring and deeply influential investment in journalism,” Dean of the Columbia Journalism School and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism, Steve Coll said in a statement. “At a time of disinformation campaigns and attacks on journalists online and off, the Center and faculty chair will send a powerful message and will bolster a free and ethical press that secures our democratic society.”

image : Vincent Maher on Flickr

“The need for credible, trusted information is critical to a healthy democratic society,” Poynter Institute president Neil Brown also said. “Through this profound act of Craig Newmark Philanthropies in support of journalistic integrity and excellence, Poynter will build on its long history in promoting media ethics and elevating the practice of journalism. Starting with the credentials of Poynter’s Kelly McBride, the Center will yield and promote something precious: independent, credible information that will help citizens successfully participate in our democracy.”

Craig Newmark is the brains behind Craigslist, the popular classified ads website with $1 billion in annual revenue according to ResearchAndMarkets. Since 2015, Newmark, the largest shareholder in the privately held company, has contributed more than $40 million to journalism initiatives. He has served as advisor or board member to organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, PolitiFact, Voto Latino, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Tech Policy Summit.

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