Make an impact in your community and reach engaged New Mexicans

Searchlight NM has produced hundreds of stories since 2018—deeply reported pieces that draw attention to vulnerable families, impoverished communities, injustices and abuses of power. Nearly one in four of those stories resulted in a reform, an investigation, a lawsuit, the resignation of a top official, a civic action, a journalism award or extensive media attention, including publication in national and global outlets.

We give our stories for free to every news outlet in the state. In the past two years, we have grown our partner network to more than 50 media outlets, from tiny newspapers like the Deming Headlight and regional icons like the Texas Observer to some of the world’s most prominent outlets. Our stories were picked up by Indian Country Today, National Native News and the Navajo Times. When a story touches on the Navajo Nation, we routinely have it translated into Diné, whereupon it’s disseminated to Native-owned radio and TV stations across the country.

Searchlight’s core model is to write comprehensively and compellingly about children, families, education and health; to distribute those stories, free of charge, to our collaborative partners — all media platforms across the state and nation; and to inform and engage every possible constituency, including Spanish speakers and Indigenous communities.

We can only keep up this pace of work with support from individuals and business owners in New Mexico.

Why Searchlight New Mexico?

With every story we take on, we strive to have impact. Our investigations have helped end practices in schools and public offices that were secretive, illegal, retaliative and in some cases potentially lethal. New Mexicans tell us they want to restore lost opportunities for education, health care, economic development and fairness before the law. How does a nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative reporting team like Searchlight serve those needs? When investigative reporters shine a light in dark corners, they encourage honest, evidence-based policy choices.

Business members support Searchlight’s core mission– to deliver high-impact investigative reporting to inspire New Mexicans to demand action on systemic problems that plague our state. Your business membership comes with an ad in our annual magazine.

Who is our audience?

Our Annual Magazine is distributed to all Searchlight donors, and education and policy leaders, reaching an audience of 1,000 in print and thousands more are downloaded online. Searchlight’s reports reach over 360,000 readers across New Mexico and the United States.

Our readers and supporters are committed to the high quality long-form journalism Searchlight produces, with a particular focus on child and family well-being and other issues facing New Mexico—environment, water, criminal justice and homelessness.

They are deeply engaged with the topics we cover, and take an active role in their local communities.