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About Startland News

Startland News office at Spark Kansas City

Startland News office at Spark Kansas City

Startland News is a digital daily business news publication primarily reporting stories of entrepreneurship and innovation (at the small and global scale) in the Greater Kansas City region. Founded in 2015, it operates within Startland — a nonprofit, community-focused holding organization that provides it with administrative support.

Startland News stories humanize the experience of entrepreneurship using the principles of community journalism. Our reporting covers startup companies, small businesses, corporations, community organizations, civic efforts, higher-education, and the overall state of the local economy and highlights the way these sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. 

Our mission: To amplify communities by uncovering their untold stories through community journalism. 

We serve our community as a discovery platform, shedding light on more than 500 founders, creatives, makers, and risk-takers each year and providing otherwise underrepresented or underserved sectors of our city with a voice and millions of dollars in earned media value they might not otherwise receive. 


Statement of Editorial Independence

We subscribe to the standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News:

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

Our organization may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.

Our Impact

  • 100,000+ subscribers
  • Nearly 5,000 original stories reported
  • More than 800 underserved entrepreneur features published 
  • More than 15,000 news engagement event attendees
  • More than 400 stories republished through partnerships with nonprofit news organizations

Our Values

  • Collaboration: Competition does not exist in our newsroom. Instead, we advance the local news ecosystem by partnering with peer media outlets to share our original reporting. This way, the untold stories of Kansas Citians gain more visibility across audiences and mediums.  
  • Community: In order to best serve our readers, we diligently embed ourselves within their unique corners of our community in order to gain trust and better understand the lived experiences of our neighbors. 
  • Equity: We believe every story is worth telling and work to ensure our reporting is not only inclusive — but the experience of consuming and participating in it is equal to all. 
  • Representation: Stories are best told when the communities they impact are represented within them. Our reporting includes voices from all communities and points of view. 
  • Trust: We earn the trust of our community by showing up to support them, authentically reporting their stories and experiences as they share them, and holding accountable the people they work for, answer to, or elect. 

Our Ethics

Our journalists commit and are held to the journalistic code of ethics outlined by the Society for Professional Journalists. They do not take significant or financial gifts from sources or outwardly engage in political activity — especially related to topics covered by Startland News. Coverage featuring funders, staff or individuals otherwise affiliated with Startland News or Startland will be disclosed.

Editorial staff do not engage in nonprofit fundraising efforts or have any direct knowledge of conversations related to business development. 

Sponsors, funders, donors, and employees of our holding organization and its board of directors do not pitch stories to reporters or editors and have no influence over the publication, its regular coverage, or other programming. Any sponsored, advertorial, or directly underwritten stories will be labeled.

Our Supporters

Startland News’ work is possible thanks to grant support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that seeks to build inclusive prosperity through a prepared workforce and entrepreneur-focused economic development. The Foundation works to change conditions, address root causes, and break down systemic barriers so that all people – regardless of race, gender, or geography – have the opportunity to achieve economic stability, mobility, and prosperity. 

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

Additional, in-kind support comes from Spark Kansas City, which supports the growing Kansas City entrepreneurial ecosystem as a catalyst for innovation through its creative space, network and community members. It seeks to foster community in order to ignite ideas that transform into successful companies and organizations.

For more information, visit Spark Kansas City at sparkcoworking.com/kansas-city/

Transparency in Funding 

Startland News is committed to transparency in its funding and processes surrounding it.

We do not endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

Our organization may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.

Financial support for the publication in excess of $5,000 has come from sponsors and underwriters at these organizations: 

Academy Bank, Bank of America, BARR Advisory, Crema, Crux, Cyderes, Engenious Design, Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (Network Kansas), Evergy Ventures, Ford Fund, 1863 Ventures,  Gautreaux Family Fund, Google Fiber, Greater Topeka Partnership, KC BizCare (City of KCMO), KCRise Fund, KC Rising, Kemper Family Foundation, Lockton,  Mellor Charitable Fund, Mike Wrenn and Becky Cole Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Pipeline Entrepreneurs, Pro Athlete Charities, Rx Savings Solutions, University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Active funders having given more than $5,000 to Startland News are always displayed on our website. No more than 3 percent of our annual revenue will come from anonymous donors. Our 990 tax forms are posted annually.

We do not accept donations from political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

Corrections 

Our team works hard to get its facts straight — but, we’re only human. See something out of place? Let us know. Email editor@startlandnews.com with corrections. Adjustments will be made within 24 hours of notice.

Honors & Awards

2017

Cornerstone Innovation Award, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City

2021

  • First place: Best Environmental Story and Best Story/Picture Combination, Kansas Press Association
  • First place: Best Local Business Story, Kansas Press Association
  • First place: Best Headline Writing, Kansas Press Association
  • Second place: Best Youth Story, Kansas Press Association 
  • Third place: Best Series, Kansas Press Association 
  • Third place: Best Story/Picture Combination, Kansas Press Association 

2022 

  • First place: Best Headline Writing, Kansas Press Association
  • Second place: Best Agricultural Story, Kansas Press Association
  • Second place: Best Environmental Portrait, Kansas Press Association 
  • Second place: Best Youth Story, Kansas Press Association 
  • Second place: Best Online Video Feature, Kansas Press Association 
  • Third Place: Best Youth Story, Kansas Press Association
  • Third Place: Best Religion Story, Kansas Press Association

Startland News is a proud member of the following professional organizations:

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