Independent journalism provides citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about policies that directly impact their lives. A free press holds political leaders accountable and serves as a check on the people and institutions in power. And those essential functions endure regardless of which political party holds power.

As an independent, nonpartisan, fact-based news organization, The Associated Press has played a unique and fundamental role in American democracy for the better part of two centuries.

In 1848, it was the AP who declared Zachary Taylor president of the United States. That’s because there was no single entity that tabulated the votes and told the country who had won — and there still isn’t. With no national governing body to oversee elections — every state runs its own process — it’s The Associated Press that has continued to count the vote and declare election winners. It’s the single largest act of journalism there is.

With political reporters based across the country — and journalists on the ground in all 50 states — AP has an unparalleled footprint when it comes to election-related coverage. But beyond our reporting, we also have a full-time team of election researchers who are experts on the ins and outs of each state’s election process as well as an expert team of race callers who have unmatched election knowledge.

Every election cycle, AP’s vast election operation tallies the vote in thousands of national, state, and local races in every state — with myriad checks to ensure the data provided to our thousands of customers is correct. In 2020, AP was over 99.9 percent accurate in calling U.S. races, and 100 percent accurate in calling the presidential and congressional races for each state, and was 99.9 percent accurate in its race calls in the 2022 midterm elections.

In 2024, the AP will declare winners in over 7,000 races up and down the ballot in all 50 states. We’re the definitive source that fellow news outlets, the public and, ultimately, the world turn to for trusted results.

Trust is thus a crucial part of journalism, and especially of election coverage. Yet the rise of misinformation and swirling hyper-partisanship have eroded the public’s trust in news. This is a troubling trend, and news organizations should not only recognize the urgency of regaining the public’s trust, but also take steps to earn it: by showing our work, being transparent about what we don’t know and, above all else, reporting the facts without fear or favor.

The philanthropic world shares these values and so many others that are key to a functioning and flourishing democracy. From supporting civic education and voter engagement to promoting volunteerism and civil discourse, philanthropic investments have contributed to a functioning democracy in many ways.

Read the full article about journalism by Julie Pace at The Center for Effective Philanthropy.