Ownership, Funding, and Nonprofit Status

Whittier 360 News Network is an independent local news organization covering Whittier, South Whittier, nearby unincorporated communities, and issues affecting the greater Whittier area.

Whittier 360 News Network is a registered California nonprofit public benefit corporation. The organization is developing its nonprofit structure, governance practices, and long-term public-service journalism model.

Ownership and Leadership

Whittier 360 News Network was founded by Rebecca Canales.

Rebecca Canales currently leads Whittier 360’s editorial direction, reporting priorities, publication decisions, and organizational development.

As Whittier 360 grows, additional information about board members, contributors, volunteers, advisors, or editorial participants will be made public where appropriate.

Nonprofit Public Benefit Status

Whittier 360 News Network is organized as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.

This structure reflects Whittier 360’s purpose as a public-service local news organization. The goal is to provide residents with factual, accessible, community-centered reporting on local government, elections, public safety, civic issues, public agencies, and community developments.

Whittier 360 is also preparing for the next stages of nonprofit development, including board governance and future charitable-status planning.

Board and Governance Development

As part of its nonprofit development, Whittier 360 is working toward a formal board and governance structure.

The board’s role will be to support the organization’s public benefit mission, financial responsibility, long-term sustainability, and accountability to the community.

Editorial independence remains essential. Governance and financial oversight should not be used to control factual reporting, suppress legitimate coverage, or require favorable treatment of any candidate, official, agency, donor, sponsor, or political interest.

Funding

Whittier 360 may be supported through a combination of donations, subscriptions, grants, sponsorships, advertising, community support, and other lawful funding sources.

Funding helps support local reporting, website operations, records research, public information access, equipment, software, production costs, outreach, and future organizational growth.

Whittier 360’s goal is to build a sustainable local news organization that can serve the community over the long term.

Editorial Independence

Whittier 360’s editorial work is independent of donors, advertisers, sponsors, political campaigns, candidates, government agencies, and outside organizations.

Financial support does not buy favorable coverage, silence criticism, remove accurate reporting, or control editorial decisions.

Whittier 360’s responsibility is to readers, the public record, and the communities it covers.

Political Independence

Whittier 360 News Network does not endorse candidates.

As Whittier 360 develops under its nonprofit public benefit structure, election coverage must remain focused on informing voters rather than promoting or opposing candidates.

Whittier 360 may report on candidates, campaigns, public records, campaign claims, ballot measures, public statements, and election results. The purpose is to inform the public, not tell voters how to vote.

Donations and Support

Community support helps Whittier 360 continue local reporting and expand its public-service mission.

Donations, subscriptions, sponsorships, or other support do not control coverage. Whittier 360 may accept financial support only when it is consistent with the organization’s independence, transparency, and public benefit purpose.

If a donor, sponsor, board member, contributor, or other connected person becomes directly relevant to a story, Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to disclose that relationship when needed for reader understanding.

Transparency

Whittier 360 believes local news organizations should be transparent about who they are, how they are funded, and how they make editorial decisions.

As the organization develops, Whittier 360 will continue updating this section to reflect changes in nonprofit status, governance, funding, board membership, editorial structure, and public accountability practices.

Our Standard

Whittier 360 News Network exists to serve the public record and the local community.

Funding supports the work.

It does not control the journalism.