“Ten years ago,” says Mark Katches, editorial director of California Watch, “there were 85 reporters covering the California state house; today there are fewer than 25.”
Katches sees California Watch, which officially launched yesterday after a soft launch period and months of preparation, as stepping into a “big void in doing investigative work in California.” Katches [...]

The Texas Tribune lifts off this morning in Austin — there’s an election today — offering not only a slew of innovative features but also a unique content-sharing plan, by which the state’s legacy media can freely publish any content generated by the Tribune and dip into its multi-faceted information databases.
Tribune CEO and editor Evan [...]

Keep an eye on Austin, Texas.
With a bankroll that includes $1 million of his own cash and contributions from a network of friends and associates, Texas venture capitalist John Thornton is launching a non-profit online journalism venture, Texas Tribune. Fund raising continues, with the goal of securing two to three years of “runway.”
In the last [...]