The Markup at a Glance

The Markup is a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on investigative journalism and data-driven storytelling.

Their reporting has led to policy changes and government investigations, including a 2020 investigation that revealed widespread price gouging by funeral homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Markup's work has been published in major news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR.

Their investigative reports often uncover hidden patterns and trends in data, shedding light on important social and economic issues.

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The Markup is a nonprofit newsroom that reports on technology and its impacts on society. It's a grant-winning organization that conducts complex data-driven investigations to help readers understand the role of technology in their lives.

The Markup is staffed predominantly by quantitative journalists who work alongside investigative journalists to advance impactful service journalism. This unique approach allows them to produce high-impact investigative journalism, weekly explainers, and open-source tools to monitor harms.

The Markup's work involves a three-step process called The Markup Method, which includes asking questions, collecting or building datasets, and sharing research methods.

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The Markup is a non-profit newsroom that focuses on investigative journalism, and its story about a hidden Facebook feature is a great example of this.

The feature, called "Breaking News", was designed to show users the most important news stories of the day, but it was also being used to push out sensational and misleading headlines.

Facebook's algorithm was favoring news articles that got a lot of engagement, rather than ones that were actually accurate or trustworthy.

This led to a situation where users were being shown news that was more likely to get a reaction, rather than news that was actually important or true.

The Markup's investigation found that Facebook's algorithm was also being influenced by the company's own advertising sales team, which was pushing for more sensational headlines to increase ad revenue.

This created a conflict of interest, where Facebook's desire for profit was taking priority over its responsibility to show users accurate and trustworthy news.

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The Markup is a nonprofit newsroom that reports on technology and its impacts on society. They're staffed predominantly by quantitative journalists who conduct complex data-driven investigations.

Their goal is to help readers understand the role that technology has on every aspect of their lives. They achieve this through a rigorous review process that invites external experts and even subjects of investigations to challenge their findings.

The Markup is a MacArthur grantee, receiving $757,000 in funding from 2020 to 2024. This grant provides travel support to enable a staff member to attend the Skoll World Forum in April 2024.

The Markup's investigative journalism process is called The Markup Method, which involves three steps: collecting or building datasets, rigorous review, and sharing research methods. They publish their datasets and code whenever possible, and explain their approach in detailed methodological write-ups.

The Markup creates open-source tools to monitor harms, like Blacklight, a real-time website privacy inspector. This tool helps users understand how their personal data is being used online.

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The Markup is a new publication that shines a light on how powerful institutions are using technology to impact people and society.

We're filling a gap in independent analysis of the effects of these changes.

Technology is reshaping the news we get and what we believe.

The Markup aims to provide a deeper understanding of how technology is influencing our lives.

We're a team dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology and society.

Our goal is to give readers the information they need to make informed decisions about the world around them.

The Markup has been on a mission to expose the truth about how tech companies are using our personal data. They've been digging deep and uncovering some shocking facts.

Their investigation into the data practices of Facebook and Google has revealed some disturbing trends. The Markup found that these companies are collecting and using our data in ways that are not transparent or fair.

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In 2020, The Markup reported that Facebook was collecting data from third-party apps without users' knowledge or consent. This included sensitive information like location data and contact lists.

Their investigation into the data practices of Google has also uncovered some concerning findings. The Markup found that Google is collecting data from users even when they're not actively using its services.

The Markup's reporting has led to some significant changes in the way tech companies handle user data. In response to their investigation, Facebook agreed to stop collecting data from third-party apps.

The Markup's work has also sparked a national conversation about data privacy and the need for greater transparency in the tech industry.

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The Markup has received significant funding to support its mission.

The organization received a $20 million gift from Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, a generous donation that will undoubtedly help further their work.

This funding boost was complemented by $2 million raised from the Knight Foundation, a notable contribution that underscores the importance of independent journalism.

The Markup also received additional funding from the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and The Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative, each contributing $1 million to the cause.