Compass Experiment's Future Uncertain After Management Shakeup
The future of the Compass Experiment, a Google-McClatchy partnership aimed at revitalising local news, hangs in the balance. While some journalists remain optimistic, others worry about potential cuts following recent changes in management.
The Compass Experiment began in 2018 with a $300 million pledge from Google to support the struggling news industry, which had seen over 2,100 newsrooms disappear since 2004. The initiative aimed to create three digital-only local news outlets, funded for three years through the Google News Initiative.
In July 2019, the Compass Experiment selected Youngstown, Ohio, for its first pilot news laboratory. Just 40 days after the town's newspaper, the Vindicator, closed, McClatchy and Google launched Mahoning Matters, a digital-only news site. The Compass Experiment launched its second news startup, the Longmont Leader, in Longmont, Colorado, in May 2020.
However, the project's future became uncertain with recent changes. In February 2021, Mandy Jenkins, the Compass Experiment's general manager, announced that Mahoning Matters would pivot to further sustainability, and the central team would depart. Last week, all three members of the Compass Experiments' business team were laid off, marking a significant shift in the project's management. Chatham Asset Management, a hedge fund based in the United States, took over the leadership of the Compass Initiative in 2025, though the exact date and further details remain unclear.
The Compass Experiment's future remains uncertain following recent management changes and layoffs. While the initiative has successfully launched two digital-only news sites, its long-term prospects depend on the new leadership's vision and commitment to the project's original goals.
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