Medford Alert Announces Transition to Nonprofit News Organization

Medford, Oregon- As we begin our 14th year of operation, Medford Alert is preparing for a significant transition. Starting Sept. 1, 2025, Medford Alert LLC will become Medford Alert News, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community news organization.

The news landscape around us has shifted dramatically since our founding. Across the country and here in Oregon, local journalism has been reduced, outsourced, or in many cases eliminated altogether. Large media corporations with out-of-area ownership have consolidated newsrooms, leaving many communities without reliable coverage of issues that affect them directly.

From the beginning, we built Medford Alert to stand apart from that model. Our commitment has always been to provide agenda-free journalism rooted in the Rogue Valley, reported by journalists who are also locals that live in the communities we cover. Over the years, we have been approached multiple times by potential buyers, but each has been based outside Oregon. Selling to an out-of-state media conglomerate would have gone against our mission of keeping this a truly local news organization. Simply put, it’s just not worth it. Medford Alert was never created for personal, staff, or company profit.

Surviving in this competitive environment has not been easy. For more than 14 years, we have operated on limited resources, generating just enough revenue to keep the lights on. Our small group has donated thousands of hours to reporting, research, technical upkeep, and community engagement. This work has extended well beyond the newsroom, as we have organized fundraising drives that generated more than $35,000 for Access following the Almeda Fire, partnered with CASA for holiday toy donations, highlighted adoptable pets in partnership with Jackson County Animal Services, and donated time or resources to many other local events and organizations.

While these examples reflect our commitment to the community, they alone cannot sustain local journalism. That is why we are making the transition to nonprofit status. By becoming Medford Alert News, we will ensure a stronger, more sustainable future. Community members, advertisers, and partners will be able to directly support our work through tax-deductible contributions, helping us continue to provide reliable news for years to come.

This transition will not change the coverage our readers rely on. The same local, regional, and state reporting that has defined Medford Alert for more than 14 years will remain at the center of what we do. What will change is the foundation: nonprofit status gives us a model designed for long-term survival in an increasingly uncertain news environment.

We love all the Medford area communities, the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon, and the entire state of Oregon. Our reporting and our actions outside the newsroom have always reflected that. With millions of annual views across our platforms, it is clear to us there is a real need and desire for truly local, agenda-free news.

As Medford Alert News, we look forward to building on that relationship. We remain committed to ensuring that our communities have access to the trusted, independent journalism you deserve.

If you are interesting in supporting Medford Alert News, or have questions about the change, please feel free to contact us here!