2016-04-27T11:05:11-05:00 2015-12-31 271728945 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES LLP 665 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK NY 10022 990 2015-01-01 274108978 FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK INC FOOD 6462486014 576 FIFTH AVENUE NO 903 NEW YORK NY 10036 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6462486014 2016-04-26 1 GARRETT M HIGGINS P00543209 2122862600 2016-04-20 2015 2016-09-27 15:27:22Z X THOMAS LASKAWY 576 FIFTH AVENUE NO 903 NEW YORK NY 10036 805672 0 X HTTP://THEFERN.ORG X 2010 NY OUR ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO EVALUATE, COMMISSION AND DISTRIBUTE INVESTIGATIVE NEWS ARTICLES OF BETWEEN 1,500 AND 5,000 WORDS IN LENGTH. THIS INCLUDES PLANNING, CONTRACTING WITH PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS FOR WRITING SERVICES, PROVIDING EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT, AND COPY EDITING, FACT CHECKING AND PROVIDING PRE-PUBLICATION LEGAL REVIEWS OF SUBMITTED STORIES. WE THEN DISTRIBUTE OUR REPORTS AT NO CHARGE TO MAINSTREAM PUBLICATIONS. 8 7 5 7 0 0 688331 738848 34369 64348 1271 1428 -53465 1048 670506 805672 0 0 0 0 155859 263672 0 0 7875 499377 476824 655236 740496 15270 65176 484985 558005 39542 47386 445443 510619 X THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THROUGH IMPARTIAL, UNBIASED, FACT-BASED "WATCHDOG" JOURNALISM FROM EXPERIENCED REPORTERS, WE SEEK TO REVEAL CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF POWER, AND EXPLOITATION AND TO EXPOSE ACTIVITIES AND SUBJECTS THAT ARE HIDDEN OR OFTEN IGNORED. THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK UNCOVERS AND EXPLORES NEWS CRITICAL TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION BASED IN NEW YORK AND OPERATING SINCE EARLY 2011, FERN HAS WORKED WITH 29 FREELANCE WRITERS TO COMMISSION AND PRODUCE 66 STORIES THAT HAVE APPEARED IN 25 OUTLETS - WE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE REACHED NEARLY 70 MILLION AMERICANS WITH OUR STORIES IN VARIOUS MEDIA. FERN 1 0 415980 44927 SEE SCHEDULE OIN 2015, WE PRODUCED 24 STORIES, INCLUDING EIGHT INTERNATIONAL STORIES, ON SUBJECTS RANGING FROM THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON CALIFORNIA'S LATINO COMMUNITIES TO THE HIDDEN TOLL OF WORLD BANK-FINANCED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON SOME OF THE PLANET'S POOREST PEOPLE. WE ADDED NEW PARTNERSHIPS FOR A TOTAL OF 34 MAINSTREAM MEDIA PUBLISHING PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE THE GUARDIAN, SUNSET, FAST COMPANY, HARPER'S AND MORE.WE WERE GRATIFIED TO LEARN IN MAY 2015 THAT FERN WON A SECOND JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUR STORY, "THE QUINOA QUARREL: WHO OWNS THE GREATEST SUPERFOOD?" WRITTEN BY LISA HAMILTON, THE STORY APPEARED WITH ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY, ALSO BY HAMILTON, IN HARPER'S MAGAZINE. FERN, HARPER'S AND HAMILTON TOOK HOME THE AWARD FOR BEST REPORTING IN THE CATEGORY OF FOOD POLITICS, POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, OUR STORY "FIELDS OF TOXIC PESTICIDES SURROUND THE SCHOOLS OF VENTURA COUNTY," BY REPORTER LIZA GROSS FOR THE NATION WON AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AWARD FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE JOURNALISTS. OUR APRIL 2015 DEEP DIVE INTO THE ISSUE OF FARMWORKER HEALTH "FIELDS OF TOXIC PESTICIDES SURROUND THE SCHOOLS OF VENTURA COUNTY," BY REPORTER LIZA GROSS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATION, REVEALED HOW CALIFORNIA'S LATINO COMMUNITIES-AND THE SCHOOLS THEY ATTEND-GET DISPROPORTIONATELY DOSED WITH PESTICIDES, MANY OF WHICH ARE LINKED TO A RANGE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE STORY BEGAN TO ACCRUE IMPACT IN MAY AND JUNE. STARTING MAY 28 IN SACRAMENTO, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION (DPR) HELD FIVE WORKSHOPS, GETTING PUBLIC INPUT ON NEW STANDARDS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL PESTICIDE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE. THERE WERE FOUR OTHER MEETINGS IN KEY FARMING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING VENTURA COUNTY, WHICH HAS MORE SCHOOLS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF NEARBY PESTICIDE USE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE. THE DPR WORKSHOPS FOLLOWED A BRIEFING ON PESTICIDE USE NEAR SCHOOLS FOR LEGISLATIVE STAFF IN SACRAMENTO LAST MONTH, HOSTED BY THE ADVOCACY GROUP PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA. GROSS WAS INVITED TO LEAD OFF THE BRIEFING BY SHARING THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS OF HER STORY, IN WHICH SHE REVIEWED SIX YEARS OF DATA FOR 66 PESTICIDES IDENTIFIED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS AS MOST LIKELY TO DRIFT AND CAUSE HARM.GROSS SAYS AN ACQUAINTANCE AT EPA TOLD HER CONFIDENTIALLY THAT THE STORY WAS REMARKABLE FOR HAVING PUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BACK INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THAT STAFFERS AT THE AGENCY WHO ARE ON THE "RIGHT SIDE" OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON THE WAY THE STORY "MOVED THE DISCOURSE" IN A WAY THEY HADN'T SEEN BEFORE. GROSS'S ARTICLE INSTIGATED A POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION AND HAS CAUSED FEDERAL REGULATORS TO PRESSURE THE CALIFORNIA DPR TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS INEQUALITY PERSISTED FOR SO LONG. STATE PESTICIDE REGULATORS FINALLY SAID THEY WILL SEEK TO STRENGTHEN RESTRICTIONS ON PESTICIDE USE NEAR SCHOOLS.FROM JUNE THROUGH DECEMBER, 2015, WE EARNED OVER 680,000 IMPRESSIONS ON FACEBOOK, 150% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS. FERN FACEBOOK PAGE FOLLOWERS INCREASED TO 7,000, 33% JUMP. ON TWITTER BETWEEN JUNE AND DECEMBER 2015, WE EARNED A TOTAL OF 2.5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, AN IMPRESSIVE 178% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS. FERN'S TWITTER FOLLOWERS WENT FROM 16,500 TO 20,000, AN INCREASE OF 22%, IN THAT PERIOD.IN SEPTEMBER 2015, WE LAUNCHED FERN'S FRIDAY FEED NEWSLETTER, A.K.A. THE #FFF, A WEEKLY SURVEY OF THE STORIES IN OUR AREAS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY OTHER OUTLETS. SOME SELECTIONS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE NEWS WHILE OTHERS ARE PRESCIENT OR IN-DEPTH FEATURES THAT WE THINK OUR READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. WE SEND THIS NEWSLETTER WEEKLY TO A SUBSCRIBER BASE OF 3,100 AS A WAY TO ENHANCE ENGAGEMENT WITH AN AUDIENCE THAT IS MOSTLY DISTINCT FROM OUR SOCIAL-MEDIA AUDIENCE. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH FERN AS A SOURCE FOR CURATION AND GUIDANCE IN NAVIGATING FOOD MEDIA, AND NOT ONLY A PRODUCER OF ORIGINAL JOURNALISM.IN OCTOBER 2015, WE RELEASED "WITH NO U.S. STANDARDS, POT PESTICIDE USE IS RISING PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT," BY REPORTERS ERICA BERRY OF FERN AND KATIE WILCOX OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS I-NEWS, WHICH EXPLORED THE GLARING ABSENCE OF OVERSIGHT ON THE LEGAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY. OUR COLLABORATIVE POT-AND-PESTICIDE STORY WAS THE TOP STORY OF A ROLLING 30-DAY PERIOD SURROUNDING ITS PUBLICATION ON THE I-NEWS SITE IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC.ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS I-NEWS DISTRIBUTES STORIES TO ITS NEWS PARTNERS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO PRESS ASSOCIATION, PUBLIC RADIO AND COMMERCIAL TV STATIONS, SOME SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, AND SEVERAL FOUNDATIONS AND BUSINESSES. THE STORY RECEIVED STRONG INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT FROM THIS AUDIENCE. IT WAS THE LEAD STORY IN THEIR NEWSLETTER, ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS I-NEWS WEEKLY, AN OPT-IN SUBSCRIPTION LIST OF RMPBS MEMBERS WHICH HAS 1,100 SUBSCRIBERS. THE STORY ALSO WAS FEATURED ON ITS WEEKLY PUBLIC-AFFAIRS TELEVISION SHOW, COLORADO STATE OF MIND, ON OCT. 2. IT DREW AN AUDIENCE OF 5,557 HOUSEHOLDS.IN THE WAKE OF THE STORY, JIM JONES, WHO HEADS THE EPA'S OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION, REACHED OUT TO I-NEWS. HE SAID HIS OFFICE HAD GOTTEN SPECIFIC APPROVAL FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN WORKING WITH STATES THAT HAD LEGALIZED MARIJUANA CULTIVATION TO TEST WHICH PESTICIDES CAN BE USED SAFELY ON MARIJUANA. DURING 2015, WE ALSO ADDED A NEW BUSINESS LINE TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE, INTRODUCING A PAID "PROFESSIONAL" PRODUCT. ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED AS A FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER IN EARLY 2014, FERN'S AG INSIDER INCLUDES DAILY POLICY REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND AGGREGATION BY LONG-TIME AGRICULTURE REPORTER CHUCK ABBOTT. THE PRODUCT IS AIMED AT AN AUDIENCE OF POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES, AND FOOD-INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES. THE FREE NEWSLETTER ACQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE FOLLOWING WITH TEN-FOLD SUBSCRIBER GROWTH.GIVEN THE AG INSIDER'S VALUE TO ITS AUDIENCE, IN THE FALL OF 2015 WE RE-LAUNCHED IT AS A PAID SUBSCRIPTION PRODUCT. FOR A SMALL ANNUAL FEE, SUBSCRIBERS GAIN ACCESS TO REPORTING, INCLUDING A FULL ARCHIVE ON OUR WEBSITE, WITH A SUBJECT-TAGGED ORGANIZATION. THE EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NOW INCLUDING ONLY SUMMARIES OF THE FULL STORIES, REMAINS FREE. WITH A MINIMAL MARKETING EFFORT, WE HAVE GAINED OVER 150 PAID SUBSCRIBERS AND MADE SEVERAL SALES TO UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, INCLUDING STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. WE SEE FERN'S AG INSIDER, PARTICULARLY INSTITUTIONAL AND CORPORATE SALES, AS A SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EARNED REVENUE GROWTH.WE ALSO HAVE BEGUN TO EXPAND OUR REPORTING TEAM FOR AG INSIDER. WE RECENTLY ADDED KRISTINA JOHNSON AS OUR WESTERN STATES CORRESPONDENT. AND TWO FREELANCE CORRESPONDENTS ATTENDED THE RECENT PARIS CLIMATE TALKS, FROM WHERE THEY FILED A NUMBER OF PIECES FOR AI. WE INTEND TO DO MORE OF THIS IN THE FUTURE, LEVERAGING OUR REPORTING CONTACTS TO AUGMENT AG INSIDER COVERAGE. IN ADDITION, WE BEGAN SYNDICATING CONTENT FROM AG INSIDER TO OTHER OUTLETS, SUCH AS AGRICULTURE.COM, THAT SERVE A SIMILAR AUDIENCE, BOTH AS A REVENUE STREAM AND A MARKETING OPPORTUNITY. WE WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING WRITER RELATIONSHIPS TO GENERATE THESE MODERATE-LENGTH STORIES, AND BRING INFOGRAPHICS TO THE COLUMN AS WELL.OUR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROGRAM CREATED THE FOLLOWING CONTENT AND SERVED THE FOLLOWING AUDIENCES: - SEVEN WAYS CLIMATE CHANGE COULD KILL YOU (REALLY), ANOTHER PIECE FROM OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GUARDIAN, DELIVERED A DISTURBING ROUNDUP OF ALL THE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT RESEARCHERS HAVE CONNECTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE-FROM DEADLY BUG BITES AND ASTHMA TO OBESITY AND DEPRESSION. THE GUARDIAN DRAWS A 26.5 MILLION MONTHLY US READERSHIP AND A 90.5 MILLION MONTHLY GLOBAL READERSHIP.- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NANOPESTICIDES PROVIDES A FASCINATING LOOK AT THE UNDER-REPORTED DARKER SIDE OF THE PROMISE OF USING NANOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE. THIS APPEARED IN MODERN FARMER, WHICH DRAWS 2 MILLION READERS EACH MONTH.- LEAVE IT TO BEAVERS, WHICH APPEARED IN ONEARTH, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, EXAMINES AN UNEXPECTED TWIST IN THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT CYCLE: BEAVERS, LONG REVILED AS A NUISANCE, ARE ACTUALLY HELPING MITIGATE THE WATER WOES THAT PIT FARMER AGAINST FISHERMAN. ONEARTH HAS MORE THAN 364,000 READERS AND IS PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, WHICH HAS THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION MEMBERS AND ONLINE ACTIVISTS.- UNRAVELING THE GLUTEN-FREE TREND SEPARATES FACT FROM FICTION IN THE RAGING DEBATE ABOUT THE ROLE OF GLUTEN IN A RANGE OF MALADIES, FROM SKIN RASHES AND JOINT PAIN TO GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS AND DEPRESSION. IT APPEARED IN EATINGWELL, WHICH HAS NEARLY 2 MILLION TOTAL READERS OF EACH ISSUE. - THE LETHAL LEGACY OF THE VIETNAM WAR IS OF ONE OF OUR MOST-SUCCESSFUL PIECES TO DATE IN 2015: GEORGE BLACK'S POWERFUL COVER STORY IN THE NATION SHOWED HOW THE TONS OF UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE, HERBICIDES, AND DEFOLIANTS THE US DROPPED ON VIETNAM DURING THE WAR PLAGUE FARMERS, AND AGRICULTURE, THERE TODAY. THE NATION HAS 1.3 152423 19421 FERN'S AG INSIDER IS A DAILY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY PAID SUBSCRIPTION NEWS SERVICE. IT INCLUDES ORIGINAL REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND A DAILY SURVEY OF BREAKING NEWS IN THE AREAS OF FEDERAL AND STATE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY AS WELL AS RELATED CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS. THE PRODUCT IS AIMED AT AN AUDIENCE OF POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES, JOURNALISTS, AND FOOD INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES. FERN'S AG INSIDER PAID SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES INCLUDE:- A DEDICATED, PAYWALLED AG INSIDER MINI-SITE ON THE FERN WEBSITE- MORE ORIGINAL, IN-DEPTH REPORTING AND ANALYSIS- ARTICLES TAGGED AND VIEWABLE BY SUBJECT- A SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF ALL AG INSIDER REPORTING 568403 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 34 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 8 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 NY CA X X THOMAS LASKAWY 2153702765 725 WESTVIEW ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19119 DANIEL PULLMAN CHAIR/TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 SAMUEL FROMARTZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40.00 X X 78650 0 0 MICHAEL RANKOWITZ SECRETARY 5.00 X X 0 0 0 NATHANIEL BROWN BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 ALISON CAYNE BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 NAOMI STARKMAN BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN WEST BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 LESLIE WILLIAMS BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 78650 0 0 157300 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 738848 738848 EDITORIAL FEE 511110 44927 44927 SUBSCRIPTIONS REVENUE 519130 19421 19421 64348 1428 1428 REIMBURSEMENT 900099 1048 1048 1048 805672 64348 0 2476 X 157300 78650 78650 85135 85135 21237 13621 7616 57162 57162 23950 23950 187483 187483 46124 45384 708 32 16068 2921 11708 1439 69343 69306 37 55585 25682 28315 1588 6406 1590 4816 11619 11619 PHOTOGRAPH LICENSES 2809 2809 RESEARCH MATERIALS 275 250 25 740496 568403 164218 7875 253448 210657 179969 336397 51568 10951 484985 558005 39542 47386 39542 47386 X 395443 510619 50000 0 445443 510619 484985 558005 65176 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 74858 382669 644113 688331 738848 2528819 74858 382669 644113 688331 738848 2528819 856242 1672577 698 1271 1428 3397 1048 1048 2533264 102067 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 805672 0 805672 0 805672 740496 0 740496 0 740496 PART X, LINE 2: UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES MANAGEMENT OF FERN HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FERN'S TAX RETURNS FOR ALL YEARS SINCE 2012 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED AS A FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER IN EARLY 2014, FERN'S AG INSIDER WAS RELAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2015 AS A PAID SUBSCRIPTION PRODUCT. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A CONTINUATION: - HEART OF AGAVE WHICH APPEARED IN MOTHER JONES, TELLS THE STORY OF AN OPTOMETRIST WHO IS TRYING TO WEAN THE MEXICAN TEQUILA INDUSTRY FROM AGROCHEMICALS--AND IS DISTILLING A SUPERIOR PRODUCT IN THE PROCESS. MOTHER JONES HAS A CIRCULATION OF OVER 200,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF OVER 701,000 READERS. - THE FORGOTTEN FILIPINO-AMERICANS WHO LED THE '65 DELANO GRAPE STRIKE BY LISA MOREHOUSE IN COLLABORATION WITH KQED'S THE CALIFORNIA REPORT UNCOVERED A LITTLE-KNOWN STORY ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LABOR ACTION OF THE MODERN ERA, THE FARMWORKERS' GRAPE STRIKE THAT DRAGGED ON FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE 1960S. KQED OVERALL HAS A COMBINED WEEKLY AUDIENCE OF OVER 4.1 MILLION LISTENERS, VIEWERS AND WEB USERS. - UNCHARTED WAS PUBLISHED IN COLLABORATION WITH CALIFORNIA SUNDAY MAGAZINE, WHICH HAS OVER 400,000 READERS. WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER LISA M. HAMILTON TRAVELLED TO ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE CORNERS OF AUSTRALIA WITH A GROUP OF PLANT GENETICISTS SEARCHING FOR WILD RELATIVES OF RICE. - MEET THE SCIENTISTS HUNTING AND SAVING WILD SUNFLOWER SEEDS PUBLISHED IN MODERN FARMER'S FALL ISSUE, NELSON HARVEY TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT SUNFLOWERS, WHICH ARE NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA. THEY ARE A VITAL OIL-SEED CROP, A DIETARY STAPLE IN CHINA, AND THE SECOND-MOST-CULTIVATED HYBRID IN THE WORLD AFTER CORN. - WITH NO U.S. STANDARDS, POT PESTICIDE USE IS RISING PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT BY REPORTERS ERICA BERRY OF FERN AND KATIE KUNTZ OF I-NEWS, FOUND A GLARING ABSENCE OF OVERSIGHT ON THE LEGAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY. IT WAS THE LEAD STORY IN THEIR NEWSLETTER, ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS I-NEWS WEEKLY, AN OPT-IN SUBSCRIPTION LIST OF RMPBS MEMBERS WHICH HAS 1,100 SUBSCRIBERS. THE STORY WAS ALSO FEATURED ON THEIR WEEKLY PUBLIC AFFAIRS TELEVISION SHOW, COLORADO STATE OF MIND, ON OCT. 2. IT DREW AN AUDIENCE OF 5,557 HOUSEHOLDS. - CHILDREN LEFT VULNERABLE BY WORLD BANK AMID PUSH FOR DEVELOPMENT BY JOCELYN ZUCKERMAN AND MICHAEL HUDSON FOR THE HUFFINGTON POST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS PART OF "EVICTED AND ABANDONED," A YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION INTO THE HIDDEN TOLL OF WORLD BANK-FINANCED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON SOME OF THE PLANET'S POOREST PEOPLE. - ALLAN SAVORY AND THE SCIENCE OF TRACKING WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH DISCOVER MAGAZINE TO SEND WRITER JUDITH SCHWARTZ TO ZIMBABWE TO TALK TO SAVORY, A GLOBAL GURU OF SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE, ABOUT THE LOST ART OF ANIMAL TRACKING. DISCOVER MAGAZINE HAS A TOTAL MONTHLY AUDIENCE OF OVER 6.3 MILLION. TRAVEL FOR THIS STORY WAS SUPPORTED BY THE PULITZER CENTER ON CRISIS REPORTING. - 10 WAYS BIG FOOD IS CHANGING TO MEET CONSUMER DEMAND PUBLISHED WITH EATINGWELL MAGAZINE, WAS A SMART, END-OF-YEAR ROUNDUP OF HOW THE FOOD INDUSTRY HAS BEGUN TO RETHINK WHAT IT SERVES. EATINGWELL HAS A MONTHLY READERSHIP OF 5.1 MILLION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESENTS A DRAFT FORM 990 TO THE CHAIR-TREASURER OF THE BOARD ELECTRONICALLY. HE REVIEWS AND APPROVES PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD. AFTER DISCLOSURE, AN INVESTIGATION IS HELD DURING WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON THE MATTER. IF THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. SUCH MATTERS INVOLVING THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE TO BE DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A STATEMENT WHICH AFFIRMS THAT THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE BOARD UTILIZES COMPENSATION DATA FOR EACH POSITION AMONG PEER ORGANIZATIONS. A PROPOSED AMOUNT FOR EACH POSITIION IS THEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. THE PROCESS WAS LAST CONDUCTED IN 2015. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE BY POSTING IT ON GUIDESTAR.ORG. IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G WRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 99,713. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 99,713. STORY EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 22,500. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 22,500. PHOTOGRAPHER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 13,070. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 13,070. AG INSIDER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 52,200. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 52,200. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.