Alabama Reflector is a daily online media outlet that covers state government and politics in Alabama. It reports on political and community events, publishes investigative journalism, and features national political news. ¹

Alabama Reflector is funded by States Newsroom, a left-of-center nonprofit national network of 32 state-level news outlets and eight partner content-sharing news organizations covering state government and politics in all 50 states. ²

Reporting

Alabama Reflector stories focus on energy and the environment, education, government and politics, criminal justice, and healthcare policy and politics in Alabama. ³

In addition to news stories, Alabama Reflector publishes a weekly summary of bills that passed the Alabama legislature. ⁴ A “Democracy Toolkit” with links to state and national representatives, information on voter registration and polling places, and campaign finance records appears at the bottom of its home page. ^{5 6}

Alabama Reflector publishes its content online under a Creative Commons license. As such, its articles can be freely republished and shared across platforms. There is no paywall and the outlet does not accept ads. ⁷

States Newsroom, ⁸ a left-leaning nationwide network of news outlets headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, operates and funds the Alabama Reflector. National coverage published by the Alabama Reflector is largely produced by States Newsroom’s D.C. Bureau ⁹ and stories on events in other states are derived from States Newsroom’s network. ¹⁰

Supporters wishing to donate to Alabama Reflector are directed to make checks out to “States Newsroom” with “Alabama Reflector” on the memo line and to mail the check to States Newsroom’s office in Washington, D.C. ¹¹

Alabama Reflector’s About page acknowledges its affiliation with States Newsroom but asserts that “The Reflector retains full editorial independence.” ¹²

Criticism

OpenSecrets, an organization that tracks money in politics, has criticized States Newsroom for undisclosed funding and operating its news sites as part of a “dark money” network. OpenSecrets’ reporting noted that States Newsroom was incubated by the Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisors-managed liberal advocacy network, and had been offered a $1 million contribution from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss’s Wyss Foundation.¹³

Leadership

Brian Lyman is the editor of Alabama Reflector. He has covered the Alabama state government since 2006 while employed by the Montgomery Advertiser, the Anniston Star, and the Press-Register. He received a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Fordham University and a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia Journalism School. ^{14 15 16}

1. Alabama Reflector. “Home • Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 15, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/
2. States Newsroom. “Newsrooms.” Accessed March 15, 2024. https://statesnewsroom.com/newsrooms/
3. Webster, Pedro. “Alabama Reflector, a Nonprofit News Site, Bolsters State Coverage of Politics, Policy.” The Georgetown Post (blog), June 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2024. https://www.thegeorgetownpost.com/2023/06/13/alabama-reflector-a-nonprofit-news-site-bolsters-state-coverage-of-politics-policy/
4. Stephenson, Alander Rocha, Jemma. “What Passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 5-7, 2024 • Alabama Reflector.” Alabama Reflector (blog), March 8, 2024. Accessed March 16, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/2024/03/08/what-passed-in-the-alabama-legislature-march-5-7-2024/
5. Alabama Reflector. “Home • Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 15, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/
6. States Newsroom. “Kicking Off 2023, States Newsroom Launches Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 16, 2024. https://statesnewsroom.com/press-releases/states-newsroom-launches-alabama-reflector/
7. Alabama Reflector. “Donate • Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 16, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/donate/
8. States Newsroom. “Home.” Accessed March 16, 2024. https://statesnewsroom.com/
9. Sadeghi, MacKenzie, and Arvanitis, Lorenzo. “States Newsroom Network (alabamareflector)” NewsGuard. Accessed March 16, 2024. https://www.newsguardtech.com/
10. News From The States. “D.C. Bureau.” Accessed March 16, 2024. https://www.newsfromthestates.com/category/dc-bureau
11. Alabama Reflector. “Donate • Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 16, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/donate/
12. Alabama Reflector. “About • Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 15, 2024. https://alabamareflector.com/about/
13. Massoglia, Anna. “’Dark money’ networks hide political agendas behind fake news sites.” OpenSecrets. May 22, 2020. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/05/dark-money-networks-fake-news-sites/
14. States Newsroom. “Kicking Off 2023, States Newsroom Launches Alabama Reflector.” Accessed March 17, 2024. https://statesnewsroom.com/press-releases/states-newsroom-launches-alabama-reflector/
15. Webster, Pedro. “Alabama Reflector, a Nonprofit News Site, Bolsters State Coverage of Politics, Policy.” The Georgetown Post (blog), June 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2024. https://www.thegeorgetownpost.com/2023/06/13/alabama-reflector-a-nonprofit-news-site-bolsters-state-coverage-of-politics-policy/
16. LinkedIn. “Brian Lyman.” Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lyman-8088041/