Open Campus a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to reporting on higher education. It was founded in 2019 with the mission to expand local and national reporting on colleges, universities, and their impact on individuals and communities.

Open Campus partners with local newsrooms to deliver expert coverage of higher ed for communities. As of March 2026, there are 18 newsroom partners across America; e.g., CalMatters, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in Puerto Rico, Chalkbeat Colorado, The City in New York City, El Paso Matters, Fort Worth Report, Houston Landing, Mirror Indy, Mississippi Today, PublicSource in Pittsburgh, San Antonio Report, Signal Ohio, Tampa Bay Times, The Texas Tribune, WBEZ Chicago, Wisconsin Watch, and WUNC in North Carolina.

Through the network, an Open Campus reporter is employed by the local newsroom as a fulltime reporter on higher education. National subject-matter experts provide editorial guidance and training, including an annual in-person Local Network summit. Open Campus reporters are connected with one another, creating a second team of colleagues around the beat. Stories are published by the local newsroom and by Open Campus. Open Campus partners with other national publications to publish stories with broad significance.

Open Campus focuses on the broader role of higher education in society. Primary focus areas include:

1. Local and Regional Reporting: Collaborates with local news organizations to provide in-depth reporting tailored to the needs and challenges of specific communities. This approach helps address the decline in local journalism coverage of higher education.
2. Workforce and Economic Development:  Examines how colleges and universities contribute to workforce development, economic mobility, and regional economic growth, including partnerships with businesses and industries.
3. Equity and Access: Covers issues of educational equity; e.g., barriers to access for marginalized groups, affordability, and the impact of systemic inequalities.
4. Policy and Accountability:  Covers higher education policy at the state and federal levels, with a particular emphasis on transparency, governance, and accountability.
5. Connections Between Education and Work:  Investigates the intersection of education and employment, including credentialing, job placement outcomes, and lifelong learning.

Open Camus publishes a newsletter, The Dispatch, which focuses on the role of higher ed in society — and highlights the work of its local reporters.

The organization is supported by funders spanning journalism and higher education, including Arnold Ventures, Lumina Foundation, and the American Journalism Project.

Resources

Local Network - Open Campus Media

Newsletters - Open Campus Media