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The 51st

Location:

Washington, DC
Type:

Media Outlet
Projected Launch Date:

Fall 2024
Associated With:

WAMU/The DCist

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The 51st is an upcoming media outlet created to cover local news within the Washington, D.C. area with an intended launch date of fall 2024 as of August 2024. It is being organized by six former employees of The DCist, which was owned by public radio station WAMU. 1

The 51st states that it will focus its news coverage on the city’s “affordability crisis” and conduct investigations that “hold bad actors to account,” according to co-founder Abigail Higgins. The name of the outlet is a reference to the fact that Washington, D.C. does not have statehood. 2

Background

The 51st is, as of August 2024, a planned media outlet that will primarily report on events in the District of Columbia. It was announced in July 2024 with a launch date set for the fall 2024. The organization was conceived after WAMU, a National Public Radio (NPR)-affiliated D.C. news station owned by American University, shuttered local news outlet The DCist in February 2024. 3 The DCist had already been closed once before by its former owner, Joe Ricketts, in November 2017. 4

The 51st bills itself as a “worker-led” media outlet “run by and for residents of Washington, D.C.,” with its leadership made up of former DCist and WAMU employees. 5 It intends to focus its news coverage on the city’s “affordability crisis” and conduct investigations that “hold bad actors to account,” according to co-founder Abigail Higgins. The name of the outlet is a reference to the fact that Washington, D.C. is not a state. 6

It has filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation. It states that it will report on “the cost of living in D.C.,” how its government operates, “how to navigate social services and civic processes,” and to “boldly hold bad actors to account.” It also intends to engage in cultural reporting and coverage of local community events. 7

Activities

In the run-up to its official launch, the founders of The 51st engaged in interviews to generate interest. Co-founders Abby Higgins and Eric Falquero sat down for the 80th episode of Five Dubs, a podcast hosted by the Maryland Delaware DC Press Association, to discuss their “vision for community-centered, work-led local news.” 8

The 51st created accounts on both X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to keep supporters up to date about its latest developments. On its Instagram page, it has made announcements about “IRL” (in real life) meetups to generate interest in potential donors and has also shared screenshots of donors’ messages to celebrate them and encourage more donations. 9 On its X page, the 51st praised its supporters for helping it reach its fundraising goal on August 13, 2024, and confirmed that it would be launching in fall 2024. 10

Funding

The 51st boasts that it is “worker-led” and funded by D.C. residents and local supporters. “We (the people making the journalism) and you (the community) decide where and how our dollars are used—and how we make our journalism,” the founders claim in an official description. 11

As of August 17, 2024, the 51st had crowdfunded $273,040 from 3,500 donors, surpassing its goal of $250,000. That number was established as the calculated cost for staying in operation for at least five months. The six founders wrote that these funds would be spent paying their salaries, paying freelance and contract employees who “helped shape our brand,” and hiring more writers, as well as on various administrative costs. 12

Leadership

The 51st was founded by six former employees of The DCist and its former parent organization, WAMU: Abigail Higgins, Colleen Grablick, Eric Falquero, Maddie Poore, Natalie Delgadillo, and Teresa Frontado. 13

Abigail Higgins was formerly a reporter covering East African news. She also worked as an editor for The DCist and WAMU, contributed regularly to the Washington Post writing on landlords and “force labor,” works as the first vice president of the National Writers Union, and “trains” incarcerated writers. 14

Colleen Grablick was formerly a reporter for The DCist and WAMU as well as a contributor for the Washington Post. 15

Eric Falquero spent his journalistic career “collaborating with residents experiencing homelessness to amplify their voices” and writing about poverty for Street Sense Media. He also worked for WAMU and The DCist. 16

Maddie Poore worked for WAMU for six years, during which she launched The DCist membership program. 17

Natalie Delgadillo was previously the managing editor of The DCist and also worked as bilingual reporter writing on “environmental justice” and immigration. 18

Teresa Frontado previously worked as the executive editor of WAMU and the DCist with 20 years of journalistic experience in Florida, Texas, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 19

References

  1. Montgomery, Mimi. “Former DCist journalists plans to launch new local news site.” Axios, July 16, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/07/16/dc-news-nonprofit-51st-dcist.
  2. Montgomery, Mimi. “Former DCist journalists plans to launch new local news site.” Axios, July 16, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/07/16/dc-news-nonprofit-51st-dcist.
  3. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  4.  Abedje, Tadiwos. “Former DCist staff launching their own news outlet The 51st.” WTOP News, July 17, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://wtop.com/local/2024/07/former-dcist-staff-launching-their-own-news-outlet-the-51st/.
  5. [1] “The 51st.” X, July 16, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://x.com/51stnews/status/1813156889846317156.
  6. Montgomery, Mimi. “Former DCist journalists plans to launch new local news site.” Axios, July 16, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/07/16/dc-news-nonprofit-51st-dcist.
  7. Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  8. “The 51st.” X, August 14, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://x.com/51stnews/status/1823791589262774545.
  9. “The 51st.” Instagram. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/51stnews/.
  10. “The 51st.” X, August 13, 2024. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://x.com/51stnews/status/1823510936990138509.
  11. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  12. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  13. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  14. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  15. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  16. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  17. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  18. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
  19. “Help Launch The 51st.” Give Butter. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://givebutter.com/The51st.
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The 51st


Washington, DC