19th News (sometimes known as “the 19th” or the “19th*”) is a left-of-center online media outlet focused on American and international politics related to women, especially women of color.

Founding

19th News was founded in 2019 by press veterans Emily Ramshaw and Amanda Zamora. Ramshaw was frustrated by how traditional media outlets were dominated by “male and pale” individuals who covered female politicians in an allegedly sexist manner that focused on their “electability” and “likability.” Despite having no fundraising experience, Ramshaw pitched the idea of a female-led and focused (particularly on women of color) media outlet to her extended social network, which included Kathryn Murdoch and Craig Newmark. In six months, Ramshaw raised $2 million to support the venture. ¹

Ramshaw and Zamora put a strong emphasis on hiring ethnic minorities, and would repost job openings on message boards like the National Association of Black Journalists or the National Association of Hispanic Journalists when the “applicant pool wasn’t diverse enough.” ²

Events

In 2020, 19th News held a virtual summit that featured then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D), and actress Meryl Streep. ³

In December 2021, 19th News held an event on “building a more equitable internet” featuring Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). ⁴

In March 2022, 19th News held an event featuring an interview with Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. ⁵

In May 2022, 19th News held an event on “prioritizing mental health” featuring Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). ⁶

In June 2022, 19th News held a “hybrid summit” celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Speakers included Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Lori Trahan (D-MA), Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, National Women’s Law Center CEO Fatima Gross Graves, and Girls Who Code CEO Tarika Barrett. ⁷

A July 2022 event on “securing disability rights” featured Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). ⁸

A September 2022 event on “equality on the ballot” included speeches by then-Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D), National Coalition on Black Civic Participation CEO Melanie Campbell, and League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase Soloman. ⁹

A December 2022 event on “creating sustainable communities” will include a speech by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (D). ¹⁰

Funding

In 2020, 19th News generated $10.9 million in revenue, compared to $4.8 million the prior year. The majority of its revenue comes from contributions from left-leaning philanthropic organizations, but 19th News also has corporate sponsorship and membership fees. ¹¹

In its first year, 19th News received $1 million or more from the Craig Newmark Foundation, the Quadrivium Foundation, the Robert Wood Foundation, the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Kathryn Murdoch. ¹² Its donors that gave between $250,000 and $1 million included Arnold Ventures, the Ford Foundation, Pivotal Ventures LLC, the Scorpio Rising Fund, and the Yellow Chair Foundation. Smaller donors included the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Emerson Collective, the Kadima Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Red Butterfly Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and the Barbara Lee Family Foundation. ¹³

After its first year, 19th News’s other major funders include the Tingari-Silverton Foundation, the John Sperling Foundation, the Windward Fund, the Tejemos Foundation, The Just Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lura Lovell Foundation, the Kozmetsky Family Foundation, and the Good Words Foundation. ¹⁴

1. Chapin, Angelina. “The Newsroom Where Politics Is Not About Men.” The Cut. August 2, 2020. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.thecut.com/2020/08/the-newsroom-where-politics-is-not-about-men.html.
2. Chapin, Angelina. “The Newsroom Where Politics Is Not About Men.” The Cut. August 2, 2020. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.thecut.com/2020/08/the-newsroom-where-politics-is-not-about-men.html.
3. Chapin, Angelina. “The Newsroom Where Politics Is Not About Men.” The Cut. August 2, 2020. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.thecut.com/2020/08/the-newsroom-where-politics-is-not-about-men.html.
4.  “Building a More Equitable Internet.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/events/building-a-more-equitable-internet/.
5. “One-on-One with Janet Yellen.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/events/live-with-the-19th-conversation-janet-yellen/.
6. “Prioritizing Mental Health.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/events/prioritizing-mental-health-awareness/
7. “50 Years of Title IX.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/2022-summit/speakers/.
8. “Securing Disability Rights.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/events/securing-disability-rights/.
9. “Equity on the Ballot.” 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://19thnews.org/events/equality-on-the-ballot-atlanta/.
10. “Creating Sustainable communities. https://19thnews.org/events/creating-sustainable-communities/.
11. “19th News.” ProPublica. 19th News. Accessed November 26, 2022. Accessed February 23, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/842627202
12. Chapin, Angelina. “The Newsroom Where Politics Is Not About Men.” The Cut. August 2, 2020. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.thecut.com/2020/08/the-newsroom-where-politics-is-not-about-men.html.
13. “Founding Members and Investors.” 19th News. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://19thnews.org/founding-members/.
14. “Major Gifts.” 19th News. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://19thnews.org/major-gifts/.