MindSite News

MindSite News – a nonprofit digital publication focused on mental health news — was launched in the fall of 2021 to fill what it describes as a void in coverage of mental health. It now says it's the only national news outlet devoted exclusively to covering the subject. It aims to be a source of nonpartisan, fact-based news, research and public policy, watchdog reporting and solutions journalism. MindSite News says it is committed to editorial independence, and focuses much of its effort in two areas: investigating and exposing flaws of the mental health system, and reporting on solutions with the potential to solve these issues and bring effective programs and policies to scale.

As a nonprofit, MindSite News sasy it depends on individuals and foundations for funding, but its policy is for news judgments to be made independently of donor support. MindSite News aims to produce reliable, trustworthy journalism – accurate, fair and independent. When it does get things wrong, its policy is to acknowledge mistakes and correct them. Its reporting strives to reduce the stigma historically associated with mental illness. MindSite News understands that writing about mental illness requires great sensitivity. It will report on suicides and deaths of despair of people with mental health and substance use disorders. It recognizes its obligation to do this in a sensitive and rigorous way that does not cause further harm to survivors or family and friends of the deceased. It will follow the guidelines for reporting on suicide developed by leading public health and media organizations.

MindSite News claims to be independent of outside interests that could undermine its editorial integrity. MindSite News was founded by two veteran journalists, Rob Waters and Diana Hembree, and Dr. Tom Insel, the former director of the National Institute of Mental Health. As a non-profit, the news organization has no owner. It is funded by foundations and individuals that the publisher says have no control over the content of its coverage. Its fiscal sponsor is the 50-year-old San Francisco Study Center, which claims to be a leader in the field of fiscal sponsorship.

MindSite News’ policy is to promote inclusion and diversity in its pages, including stories from all of its communities, including Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders, whites and LGBTQ+ people. MindSite News believes that diversity includes neuro-diversity, and welcomes hearing from mental health advocates and people who’ve experienced trauma, prolonged grief and other mental health problems and illnesses. 

MindSite News says that it welcomes reader feedback, including comments on anything that needs to be corrected. Its policy is to ask authors for their source materials and fact-check its articles. MindSite News is committed to accurate and conscientious journalism, and aims to makes necessary corrections quickly and transparently. Corrections are highlighted at the top of the story in question and include the time and date of the correction. 

MindSite News' policy is to use named sources whenever possible, but says it appreciates that in some circumstances sources may face serious repercussions if their names are disclosed — repercussions that may include loss of income or jobs or even danger. Where MindSite News editors perceive a possible danger, they may decide to withhold the name of source for their own protection. In such cases, the publication's reporters — after consulting with editors — may grant anonymity, although the newsroom’s policy is to consider sources’ motives before promising it. MindSite News says it reserves anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution, ostracism or other harm, and will explain the reasons for granting anonymity to its readers. In all cases, the policy is that least one editor will know the identity of the source.