The Franklin Center is a non-profit group dedicated to providing investigative reporters and non-profit organizations at the state and local level with the training, expertise and technical support necessary to pursue journalistic endeavors.

The Franklin Center was founded in January 2009.  At the heart of the Franklin Center’s mission is a belief that new technology can advance the cause of transparency in government. This can only be accomplished, however, if the journalists of tomorrow can effectively master this new media. The Franklin Center aims to educate, advise and train individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to become thorough, unbiased and accurate reporters well versed in new media techniques and journalistic integrity.

The Franklin center is engaged in numerous journalist research projects, education programs and training programs designed to provide the network of investigative reporters and the general public access to information and news. At the core of the programs of the Franklin Center is the desire to implement training programs and policies that ensure the networking and cooperation of all reporters across the nation.

Benjamin Franklin, a printer by trade, once said that “a newspaper in every home” was the “principle support of…morality” in civic life. The decline of the American newspaper today might sadden Mr. Franklin, if it were not for one simple fact:  there are more than 220 million personal computers in a country of about 300 million people. No newspaper has ever attained that kind of circulation. Perhaps, we are closer than ever to attaining Mr. Franklin’s dream.

Non-profit organizations looking to begin or expand journalism programs, as well as individuals interested in becoming investigative reporters, can contact the Franklin Center at (701) 214-5612 or via E-mail at info@franklincenterhq.org. The organization also assists journalistic organizations with recruitment efforts. To submit your resume or access our applicant database, please email resume@franklincenterhq.org.

If you are an organization looking for a Franklin Center representative to come speak about non-profit journalism and the work of the Franklin Center please email info@franklincenterhq.org

The Franklin Center attained 501(c)3 status in June 2009. Any donations made to the Franklin Center are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)3.  The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity neither accepts nor receives any government or taxpayer-financed grants and relies solely on the generous support of our donors.  The Franklin Center protects the identification of its generous donors and ensures anonymity of all contributions. The Franklin Center adheres to the Code of Ethics outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists.