The Fourth Estate® is a multi-stakeholder public benefit cooperative. We provide news organizations, businesses, and people around the world with the news and information that they need to make wise and informed decisions.
As an Fourth Estate member-owner, you become an equity stakeholder in a unique mission-driven organization that seeks to foster, support and incubate a sustainable and vibrant, and responsible free press.
Membership is organized into eight categories of member-owner classes representing the major stakeholder groups, and three associate classes. Equity Share cost and member dues vary by member type.
Member Class
Individual Member-Owner Classes (voting)
A
Founding Member
Equity Share: $5000
Annual Dues: Waived *
Founding members are individuals who make possible the activities of a growing public benefit organization that seeks to advance and advocating for a strong and responsible free press, and fighting for the public’s right to trustworthy news and information.
B
Journalist Member
Equity Share: $1000
Annual Dues: Waived *
Individuals who are affiliated as employees, agents, or independent contractors of a bona fide news or media organization, and who regularly gather, edit, report, and/or disseminating news or information to the public.
C
Journalism Educator Member
Equity Share: $1000
Annual Dues: Waived *
Individuals who are employed at a college, university, or secondary school and teaching journalism, or communications as their primary means of employment.
D
Public Citizen Member
Equity Share: $1000
Annual Dues: Waived *
Individuals who are not journalists or educators but share the Fourth Estate’s mission and vision; and want to enjoy the privileges, benefits and responsibilities of Fourth Estate membership.
Member Class
Organizational Member-Owner Classes (voting)
E
News Organization
Membership Share: $5000
Annual Dues: Varies
Open to any entity that is in the regular business of news gathering and disseminating news or information to the public by any means, including, but not limited to, print, broadcast, photographic, mechanical, internet, or electronic distribution;
F
Academic Institution
Membership Share: $5000
Annual Dues: Varies
Accredited academic and educational institutions that are engaged in the
training, instruction, and advising of news and/or journalism students are eligible to be Academic Institutional members.
G
Corporation
Membership Share: $10000
Annual Dues: Varies
Any for-profit entity that wish to support and share the Fourth Estate’s mission and vision; and wants to enjoy the privileges, benefits and responsibilities of Fourth Estate membership.
H
Association / Non-profit
Membership Share: $5000
Annual Dues: Varies
Any not-for-profit entity that wish to support and share the Fourth Estate’s mission and vision; and wants to enjoy the privileges, benefits and responsibilities of Fourth Estate membership.
Member Class
Associate Member Classes (non-voting)
I
Associate Member (Supporter)
Non-voting Membership
Annual Dues: from $50
Individuals who share the Fourth Estate’s mission and vision; but are not eligible for voting membership, or are not quite ready to be member-owners.
J
Alliance Member
Non-voting Membership
Annual Dues: from $500
Entities who share the Fourth Estate’s mission and vision; but are not eligible for voting membership, or are not quite ready to be member-owners.
K
Student Member
Non-voting Membership
Annual Dues: Free
Available to students currently enrolled in an accredited college/university journalism or communications degree program. Students must register with an .edu email address.
Payment Plans
Payment plans are available for the cost of membership equity share.
Member Are Owners
Member-owners are classified based on member divisions and are entitled to one vote in Fourth Estate elections.
* Annual dues Individual Member-Owner classes have been temporarily waived by the executive committee.
