Who We Are

Our mission

The mission of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is to enhance the quantity, quality and impact of journalism on agriculture, water and related issues throughout the basin.

The Mississippi River Basin spans nearly half of the continental United States. Millions of residents rely on the river system for drinking water, commerce and recreation.

More than 90% of America’s agricultural exports are grown within the basin, including more than three-quarters of the world’s feed grain exports and most of the country’s livestock. Agricultural runoff contributes more than 70% of nitrate pollution in the Mississippi River, threatening human health, harming aquatic life and fueling the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone.” 

Pollution, flooding and shifts in land use affect communities across the basin. And as climate change intensifies, the region faces growing risks from extreme weather and flooding.

We work to help our audiences understand the region as one interconnected system. As one reader put it, “we are all downstream.”

Our model

We believe collaboration is essential to reporting on these challenges, which cross state lines and political boundaries. In partnership with Report for America, Desk journalists cover the basin from local newsrooms across the country, providing in-depth coverage of the people, policies and environmental forces shaping the basin.

We share resources and stories for all newsrooms to republish for free. We also provide training and mentorship to journalists so they can build expertise and tell more equitable, impactful and interconnected stories.

By working together, we produce stronger journalism that informs communities, deepens understanding and reaches more people.

Our editorial process

How we select stories: The Ag & Water Desk covers agricultural and environmental issues in the Mississippi River Basin and helps our audiences understand the region as a cohesive community. We cover topics such as agricultural runoff, climate change-driven droughts and flooding, the marginalization of LGBTQ farmers and much more. We may cover breaking news or produce in-depth features and investigations. Send story ideas to info@agwaterdesk.org. We are not, at this time, accepting freelance pitches.

Who reports our stories: Our stories are generally reported by our Report for America corps members in our partner newsrooms. Other journalists — including our expert journalist advisors as well as University of Missouri students — occasionally contribute stories as well. All of our stories are available for news outlets to republish for free with credit. News outlets may add their own local reporting to our stories. Learn more about our republishing guidelines here.

How we edit stories: Ag & Water Desk stories are edited by our Editorial Director. Reporters may pitch story ideas or receive assignments individually and in collaboration with each other. The Editorial Director works closely with Desk reporters’ local editors to develop reporting plans, edit the stories, and coordinate fact-checking and publication. Once stories have been distributed to news outlets for publication, those outlets’ editors may adapt our stories further to suit local audiences’ needs.

How we fact-check our stories: Each Ag & Water Desk story goes through a rigorous fact-checking process. Inspired by the process used by our partners at Wisconsin Watch, our reporters and editors independently verify every fact in every story, using primary documents to confirm their accuracy. In the instance of an error, corrections are issued via our distribution network. We welcome feedback at info@agwaterdesk.org.

Editorial independence policy

The Ag & Water Desk and its collaborators operate with editorial independence, both from funders and from the University of Missouri or any other entity. Our editorial team retains full authority over all content we produce and distribute to our network.

We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and all sources of revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or of their products, services or opinions. Our news judgments are made independently, and we cede no right of review or influence of editorial content.

We subscribe to standards of editorial independence and financial transparency adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News. Our organization makes public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. Learn more about our funders and financial transparency policy.

Ethics & conflict of interest policies

We abide by the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. The following conflict of interest policy is adapted from this code.

Ag & Water Desk journalists will act independently and always in the public interest. Our journalists will: 

• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
• Disclose unavoidable conflicts in consultation with the Editorial Director. 
• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment from potential or active sources.
• Avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money. 
• Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist any pressure to influence coverage.