2025-02-10T15:26:09-06:00 2024-06-30 873231666 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC 245 PARK AVENUE 12TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10167 990 2023-07-01 274108978 FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK INC FOOD 6462486014 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6462486014 2025-02-10 1 1 EVA MRUK P00543254 2122862600 2025-02-10 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z THOMAS LASKAWY 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 1311279 0 X WWW.THEFERN.ORG X 2010 NY THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS IN TEXT, AUDIO, AND VIDEO. 4 3 12 4 0 0 1222847 1159501 106489 144436 4777 5780 -7989 1562 1326124 1311279 0 0 0 0 778683 833848 0 0 50240 540033 710344 1318716 1544192 7408 -232913 703939 503192 87072 119238 616867 383954 X FERN SEEKS TO MAKE THE FOOD SYSTEM MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE THROUGH POWERFUL JOURNALISM AND STORYTELLING. 0 0 1117498 0 77959 THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO DELIVER SMART, POWERFUL JOURNALISM THAT HELPS DEFINE, AND OFTEN LEADS, THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ITS AREAS OF FOCUS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE PRODUCED 24 EXPLANATORY OR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS AND 2 MULTI-STORY SERIES ON A RANGE OF TOPICS PUBLISHED WITH 16 OUTLETS, INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON POST, BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK, GRIST, NPR'S MORNING EDITION, MOTHER JONES, AND OTHERS. ONE OF OUR MAIN INITIATIVES DURING THE YEAR REPRESENTED A FIRST FOR FERN. WE CO-PUBLISHED A FULL MAGAZINE, HAVING OVERSEEN THE SPECIAL FOOD ISSUE OF SWITCHYARD, A BIANNUAL LITERARY PUBLICATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA. FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE WAS AN ESSAY BY TOP CHEF CO-HOST TOM COLICCHIO ON FOOD POLICY; THEODORE ROSS'S IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH SEAN SHERMAN, CHEF AND CO-OWNER OF OWAMNI RESTAURANT IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHOSE COOKBOOK THE SIOUX CHEF'S INDIGENOUS KITCHEN WON A JAMES BEARD AWARD IN 2018; AN INVESTIGATIVE FEATURE BY DAN CHARLES ABOUT PESTICIDES AND THE THREAT TO POLLINATORS, WHICH WILL ALSO BE FEATURED IN AN EPISODE OF OUR UPCOMING PODCAST SERIES; AND TWO DEEPLY PERSONAL NARRATIVES ON THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES BOUND UP IN FOOD BY SIDDARTHA DEB AND JORI LEWIS. PAIRED WITH THE ISSUE WAS A LIVE EVENT IN TULSA WHICH FEATURED SEVERAL OF THE ARTICLE AUTHORS. FINALLY, SWITCHYARD RELEASED THREE PODCAST EPISODES BASED ON THE PIECES, WHICH WERE CO-RELEASED ON FERN'S NEW PODCAST DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM REAP/SOW: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTLINES OF FARMING, FOOD & THE ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER NOTABLE EFFORT DURING THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION FOR FERN'S SECOND LIMITED-SERIES PODCAST. ENTITLED BUZZKILL, IT EXPLORES THE POLLINATOR CRISIS. WHILE THE CRISIS FACING BEES IS WELL KNOWN, THE WORLD OF POLLINATORS IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN DOMESTICATED HONEY BEES. NATIVE BEES, BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, FLIES, WASPS, BEETLES, BATS, AND OTHER SMALL MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND AMPHIBIANS POPULATE A NEARLY INVISIBLE ECOSYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FLOWERING PLANTSFOOD CROPS AND WILD PLANTS ALIKETO PRODUCE SEEDS AND FRUITS. BUZZKILL WILL EXPLORE THIS RICH AND DEEP WORLD, EXAMINING CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE LOSS OF HABITAT AND ENTIRE ECOSYSTEMS, WHICH HAVE LARGER RAMIFICATIONS THAN THE DECLINE OF A SINGLE SPECIES. WE HAVE RAISED OVER $160,000 FOR THE PROJECT, REPRESENTING ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE TOTAL BUDGET REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION. WE HAVE HIRED AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ADIZAH EGHAN, FORMERLY OF VICE MEDIA AND THE NEW YORK TIMES, TO OVERSEE THE PRODUCTION AND BEGAN REPORTING AND RECORDING. WE EXPECT TO RELEASE THE PODCAST IN EARLY 2025.TO SUPPORT THE NEW SERIES, WE ALSO REVAMPED OUR EXISTING PODCAST FEED, WHICH WE HAD CREATED FOR THE HOT FARM SERIES. WE CHANGED THE NAME TO "REAP/SOW: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF FOOD, FARMING, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HAVE BEEN RELEASING EPISODES MONTHLY FEATURING SELECTIONS FROM OUR AUDIO ARCHIVE AS WELL AS ORIGINAL PODCAST EPISODES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KQED IN CALIFORNIA AND WWNO IN NEW ORLEANS. WE ALSO LAUNCHED REAP/SOW VIDEO ON YOUTUBE, A Q&A FEATURING EACH EPISODE'S HOST, AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE AUDIO PIECE. WE EXPECT REAP/SOW TO HELP US MAINTAIN THE AUDIENCE WE BUILT WITH HOT FARM AND BRING IT FORWARD TO BUZZKILL AND BEYOND. WE VIEW IT AS FERN'S DEDICATED PODCAST CHANNEL AND THE HOME FOR ALL OUR AUDIO WORK, WHETHER LIMITED SERIES, ONE-OFF PODCAST EPISODES, RADIO REPORTS, AND OTHER ITEMS.FERN MOVED STRONGLY INTO A NEW FORMAT THIS YEAR: WHAT WE CALL SPECIAL STORY PACKAGES. THIS FEATURE ALLOWS US TO COVER A COMPLICATED SUBJECT FROM A RANGE OF ANGLES AND PERSPECTIVES IN SHORTER PIECES WITH DIFFERENT WRITERS. THE FIRST WAS PUBLISHED WITH MOTHER JONES ON THE FEDERAL FARM BILL. PUBLISHED IN EARLY 2024, THIS WAS A MULTI-STORY DIGITAL FEATURE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS OF PASSING THE FARM BILL IN AN ERA OF EXTREME POLITICAL DYSFUNCTION. THE SECOND WAS A SIMILARLY STRUCTURED SERIES ON FOOD WASTE WITH INVERSE, A DIGITAL CULTURE AND SCIENCE NEWS SITE FROM THE BUSTLE MEDIA GROUP.TWO OF THE PROJECTS WE RELEASED IN 2023 WERE FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS, THE "OSCARS" OF MAGAZINE AWARDS. ALONE ON THE RANGE BY FERN STAFF REPORTER TERESA COTSIRILOS IS A FINALIST IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING CATEGORY AND OUR SWITCHYARD FOOD ISSUE COLLABORATION IS A FINALIST FOR SINGLE-TOPIC ISSUE. THESE ARE OUR FIRST NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD NOMINATIONS AND REPRESENT A RECOGNITION BY OUR PEERS THAT FERN'S WORK IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF JOURNALIST ACHIEVEMENT.A FINAL PROJECT OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WAS A COLLABORATION WITH MOTHER JONES ON A SPECIAL STORY PACKAGE ON THE FEDERAL FARM BILL. PUBLISHED IN EARLY 2024, THIS IS A MULTI-STORY DIGITAL FEATURE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS OF PASSING THE FARM BILL IN AN ERA OF EXTREME POLITICAL DYSFUNCTION. ANOTHER FIRST FOR FERN, THIS SERIES WILL INCLUDE STAFF WRITERS FROM FERN AND MOTHER JONES AND SUBJECT EXPERTS ON THE FARM BILL FROM OUTSIDE OUR ORGANIZATIONS. THE REPORTING WILL BE MORE ARGUMENT DRIVEN THAN OUR TYPICAL LONGFORM NARRATIVE STYLE, SIMILAR TO (AND PARTLY INSPIRED BY) OUR RECENT REPORTING ON THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF CROP INSURANCE IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE NEW REPUBLIC. REPORTING ON THE FARM BILL IS HARD. GETTING LOST IN THE WEEDS IS EASY, AS IS SOARING SO HIGH ABOVE THE DETAILS THAT YOU CAN'T DISCERN THE HUMAN CONSEQUENCES. FERN'S COVERAGE WITH MOTHER JONES WILL THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN THOSE TWO OUTCOMES, LOOKING AT THE ISSUES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET ADDRESSED, THE ONES THAT WON'T, AND WHY. 99360 0 66477 WE PRODUCED DOZENS OF ORIGINAL REPORTED PIECES FOR OUR FERN'S AG INSIDER POLICY NEWS SERVICE. TOPICS THAT RECEIVED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE THIS YEAR, INCLUDED CLIMATE POLICY, CALIFORNIA WATER ISSUES, AND FOOD ACCESS POLICY. WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 400 INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS AND A GROWING NUMBER OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS, INCLUDING NYU, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, YALE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO OUR SUBSCRIPTION-ONLY SERVICE. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 2,200 PEOPLE RECEIVE THE FREE NEWSLETTER VERSION EVERY WEEKDAY. 1216858 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 50 0 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AR CA CT FL IL MA MD MI MN NJ NY PA WI X X X THOMAS LASKAWY 2153702765 725 WESTVIEW ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19119 SAMUEL FRORMARTZ SECRETARY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THRU JUL 2023 40.00 X X 60037 0 782 NATHANIEL BROWN CHAIR-TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 AILEEN BURDICK DIRECTOR THRU DEC 2023 5.00 X 0 0 0 SARENA SNIDER DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN WEST DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 104328 0 1853 WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM EXECUTIVE EDITOR 40.00 X 105773 0 0 270138 0 2635 2 0 0 0 GASTROPOD 57 TRULL STREET SOMERVILLE MA 02145 PODCAST PRODUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMEN 128010 1 1159501 30058 1159501 EDITORIAL REVENUE 513110 110789 110789 SUBSCRIPTIONS REVENUE 513190 33297 33297 WRITERS REVENUE 513190 350 350 144436 5780 5780 REIMBURSEMENT 900099 1562 1562 1562 1311279 144436 0 7342 X 111424 4432 106992 656572 656572 2405 2405 63447 54839 8608 35750 35750 210253 185448 1307 23498 10974 1779 7908 1287 54331 8810 39147 6374 338200 281911 46778 9511 8615 1397 6207 1011 34272 19190 6578 8504 465 75 335 55 17484 17484 1544192 1216858 277094 50240 150128 106859 291482 156514 257710 235200 4619 4619 703939 503192 70769 105913 16303 13325 87072 119238 X 76023 -154588 540844 538542 616867 383954 703939 503192 -232913 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1202355 942796 1284542 1222847 1159501 5812041 1202355 942796 1284542 1222847 1159501 5812041 2658300 3153741 494 326 122 4777 5780 11499 1084 1787 3435 1562 7868 5831408 550960 0.54080 0.53700 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: REIMBURSEMENT - 2019 AMOUNT: $ 1,084. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,787. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 3,435. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 1,562. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 1311279 0 1311279 0 1311279 1544192 0 1544192 0 1544192 PART X, LINE 2: MANAGEMENT OF FERN HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FERN'S TAX RETURNS FOR ALL YEARS SINCE 2021 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. X 2 30058 AVG. SELLING PRICE 0 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN COLUMN (B). FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 WAS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND THEN REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY, BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF ALL THE MATERIAL FACTS, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES WHILE A DETERMINATION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON. AN INTERESTED PERSON MAY MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETING, BUT AFTER THE PRESENTATION HE/SHE LEAVES THE MEETING DURING THE DISCUSSION OF, AND VOTE ON THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SUCH MATTERS INVOLVING THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A STATEMENT WHICH AFFIRMS THAT THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, READ AND UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO COMPLY WITH IT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE BOARD UTILIZES COMPARABLE COMPENSATION DATA OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE AMOUNT FOR EACH POSITION IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. THE PROCESS LAST OCCURRED IN 2023. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FERN'S FORM 990 IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE, THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEBSITE, GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 1,000. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 5,213. TOTAL EXPENSES 6,213. COMMUNICATIONS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 1,041. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 16,500. TOTAL EXPENSES 17,541. PHOTOGRAPHER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 19,425. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 19,425. EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 17,265. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 1,785. TOTAL EXPENSES 19,050. WRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 138,387. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 138,387. PAYROLL SERVICE FEE: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 8,330. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 1,307. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 9,637. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.