Mission
The Waco Bridge is an independent, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to empowering Wacoans with high-quality local news and information that connects communities and fosters public engagement. Supported by The Texas Tribune, we deliver accessible, free news that serves people’s needs.
Vision
The Waco Bridge is a digital-first, innovative newsroom that unites communities through free, context-driven reporting and public events. Our mission is to provide reliable information that empowers residents, strengthens connections and deepens the understanding of what’s happening in Waco and why.
Why the Bridge?
Our name, “The Waco Bridge,” reflects this newsroom’s mission to connect Wacoans and unite the community’s shared opportunities, stories and futures. The suspension bridge, a community icon dating to 1870, symbolizes community spirit, innovation and identity, and it’s celebrated as a gateway to growth and prosperity.
Community engagement
The foundation of Waco’s new local newsroom is community engagement, which is vital to building a newsroom that truly reflects the city’s diverse voices and needs. We have already engaged with more than 100 community leaders, including faith leaders, elected officials, public school administrators, professors, CEOs, community activists and other stakeholders. Their feedback and input has shaped the early vision for the local newsroom. The input has also informed every aspect of The Waco Bridge.
Commitment to transparency
At The Waco Bridge, we believe trust is earned through openness about how we work and who supports us.
AI and ethics policy
Though The Waco Bridge is an editorially independent newsroom, we align with the code of ethics and AI policy created by our sister publication, The Texas Tribune. Our AI principles include:
- We don’t publish text generated by AI tools unless we have verified and edited it.
- Our journalists won’t rely on generative tools as a primary source of information.
- We’ll tell you if we use AI for journalistic purposes such as data analysis, chatbots, or interactive modules.
- We will not use AI to generate images for news stories.
Funding transparency
We’re also committed to being clear about who funds our work. You can find a full list of our supporters and members here.
Supported by The Texas Tribune
Waco is the first of a network of editorially independent local newsrooms, supported by the Texas Tribune. Given the community’s desire for more local news and information, and the magnitude of growth and change happening in the community, Waco is the ideal place for an innovative solution. The lessons from Waco will reach far beyond its city limits. The Texas Tribune will actively apply learnings from Waco to the creation of future local Texas newsrooms, including one in Austin.
Contact us
We want to hear from you! Email us at info@wacobridge.org or submit a tip here.
The Waco Bridge
P.O. Box 702
Waco, Texas 76703