The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit news source for DC, producing local journalism through a weekly newsletter meant to make people’s lives better. It was co-founded by six former DCist and WAMU employees after the closure of DCist in February 2024. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, The 51st published hundreds of news stories on local happenings, explainers that demystify local politics, roundups of ways to volunteer and enjoy the city, and
features that highlight people and places that make DC tick. The 51st’s Community Connector program centers communities that are frequently marginalized by mainstream media and positions them as active participants in their newsmaking process. With local news shrinking, The 51st ensures that a newsroom, when run by journalists, can truly serve a community’s needs.
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