Montana Free Press and Mountain Journal Join Forces

HELENA — Montana Free Press (MTFP), the state’s leading independent nonprofit digital-first news organization, is proud to announce that it is partnering with Mountain Journal (MoJo), a nonprofit news site dedicated to public-interest journalism at the intersection of people and nature in America's wildest, most iconic ecosystem. MTFP’s strategic acquisition of MoJo aims to advance the missions of both organizations by combining their strengths to cover critical issues facing Montana and the Greater Yellowstone region.

“The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem consists of vast, wild landscapes that are home to diverse wildlife and natural resources that maintain the ecological integrity of the region. Its intrinsic and economic importance cannot be overstated,” said MTFP founder and Executive Director John Adams. “In-depth coverage of Montana’s environment has always been a hallmark of MTFP’s reporting. Mountain Journal’s dedicated coverage of this vitally important region makes it an ideal partner.” 

The acquisition enables MTFP and MoJo to expand both organizations’ ability to produce free, fact-based journalism that informs readers about some of the most consequential and complex issues facing Montana and Greater Yellowstone. By leveraging MoJo's topical editorial experience, strong donor base, and significant social media following alongside MTFP's award-winning editorial staff, proven executive leadership, and comprehensive back-office operations, the combined entity is poised to:

“By joining forces, we aim to leverage our strengths, expand our resources, and deepen our impact on the communities we serve in Greater Yellowstone,” said Mountain Journal Managing Editor Joe O’Connor. “This acquisition will enable us to broaden our coverage areas, increase our investigative capabilities, and ultimately deliver more meaningful stories that resonate with our audiences.”

O'Connor will join the MTFP staff and maintain his role as Managing Editor of MoJo, which will continue to provide independent, insightful and impactful conservation journalism that informs and empowers individuals and drives positive change for the wildlife and wildlands in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 

“Uniting Montana Free Press with Mountain Journal marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to serving readers throughout our region,” said Skylar Browning, MTFP Board Chair. "This merger not only amplifies our ability to deliver rigorous, in-depth journalism but also strengthens our shared mission to illuminate the critical environmental and policy issues that shape the future of the Northern Rockies. Together, we are poised to provide an even greater depth and breadth of coverage, fostering informed dialogue and driving meaningful change."

MoJo will maintain its distinct web presence at www.mountainjournal.org, proudly displaying the existing Mountain Journal brand while promoting its affiliation with MTFP. While the MTFP and MoJo newsrooms will remain separate, MoJo and MTFP will occasionally collaborate to co-produce content and feature cross-published articles with clear links to the original source.

“I am thrilled that MoJo has joined forces with another top nonprofit independent journalistic force for our region: Montana Free Press,” said MoJo Board Chair Hank Perry. “They will be an excellent partner in this endeavor as we continue to stand for fact-based journalism in the issues that matter most to our readers. Our entire board of directors unanimously supports this effort as a collaboration of like minds and deep talent, and we will continue to be involved as we work together with their highly talented organization.”

Montana Free Press is a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to providing in-depth reporting on the issues that matter to Montanans. Through investigative journalism and insightful analysis, MTFP aims to inform the public and hold powerful entities and institutions accountable.

Mountain Journal focuses on public-interest journalism at the nexus of people and nature in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Committed to preserving the wild integrity of this iconic region, MoJo delivers stories that highlight the environmental and cultural significance of the area.