The Guardian Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Ownership and finances== ''The Guardian'' is part of the [[Guardian Media Group]] (GMG) of newspapers, radio stations and print media. GMG components include ''[[The Observer]]'', ''[[The Guardian Weekly]]'' and ''[[TheGuardian.com]]''. All were owned by [[Scott Trust Limited|The Scott Trust]], a charitable foundation existing between 1936 and 2008, which aimed to ensure the paper's [[editorial independence]] in perpetuity, maintaining its financial health to ensure it did not become vulnerable to takeovers by commercial media groups. At the beginning of October 2008, the Scott Trust{{'}}s assets were transferred to a new limited company, The Scott Trust Limited, with the intention being that the original trust would be wound up.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/08/theguardian.theobserver |title=Guardian owner the ''Scott Trust'' to be wound up after 72 years |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 October 2008 |access-date=10 October 2008 |last=Conlan |first=Tara |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144252/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/08/theguardian.theobserver |url-status=live }}</ref> Dame [[Liz Forgan]], chair of the Scott Trust, reassured staff that the purposes of the new company remained the same as under the previous arrangements. [[File:The Guardian Building Window in London.JPG|thumb|''The Guardian''{{'s}} headquarters in London]] ''The Guardian'' is the only British national daily to conduct (since 2003) an annual social, ethical and environmental [[audit]] in which it examines, under the scrutiny of an independent external auditor, its own behaviour as a company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/values/socialaudit |title=Living Our Values: Social, Ethical and Environmental Audit 2006 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |access-date=11 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006205919/http://www.theguardian.com/values/socialaudit |archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> It is also the only British national daily newspaper to employ an internal ombudsman (called the "readers' editor") to handle complaints and corrections. ''The Guardian'' and its parent groups participate in [[Project Syndicate]] and intervened in 1995 to save the ''[[Mail & Guardian]]'' in South Africa; GMG sold the majority of its shares of the ''Mail & Guardian'' in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coetzee|first=Andre|date=6 August 2014|title=Mail & Guardian {{!}} Print Media|url=https://print.media.co.za/mail-guardian/|access-date=4 January 2021|website=[[Mail & Guardian]]|archive-date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108114041/https://print.media.co.za/mail-guardian/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' was consistently loss-making until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2019/05/want-to-see-what-one-digital-future-for-newspapers-looks-like-look-at-the-guardian-which-isnt-losing-money-anymore/|title=Want to see what one digital future for newspapers looks like? Look at The Guardian, which isn't losing money anymore|website=Nieman Lab|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501173416/https://www.niemanlab.org/2019/05/want-to-see-what-one-digital-future-for-newspapers-looks-like-look-at-the-guardian-which-isnt-losing-money-anymore/|url-status=live}}</ref> The National Newspaper division of GMG, which also includes ''The Observer'', reported operating losses of £49.9 million in 2006, up from £18.6 million in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/gmgplc/media/news/article/article110.html |title=Guardian Media Group 2005/06 results: 28/07/2006: A LANDMARK YEAR FOR GMG |access-date=9 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821180103/http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/gmgplc/media/news/article/article110.html |archive-date=21 August 2006}}</ref> The paper was therefore heavily dependent on cross-subsidisation from profitable companies within the group. The continual losses made by the National Newspaper division of the ''Guardian Media Group'' caused it to dispose of its Regional Media division by selling titles to competitor ''[[Trinity Mirror]]'' in March 2010. This included the flagship ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'', and severed the historic link between that paper and ''The Guardian''. The sale was in order to safeguard the future of ''The Guardian'' newspaper as is the intended purpose of the Scott Trust.<ref name="M.E.N sold to Trinity Mirror">{{cite news |title=Manchester Evening News sold by Guardian Media Group |publisher=M.E.N. Media |date=9 February 2010 |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/manchester-evening-news-sold-by-guardian-882685 |access-date=11 February 2010 |work=Manchester Evening News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719231233/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/manchester-evening-news-sold-by-guardian-882685 |archive-date=19 July 2013 }}</ref> In June 2011 ''Guardian News and Media'' revealed increased annual losses of £33 million and announced that it was looking to focus on its online edition for news coverage, leaving the print edition to contain more comments and features. It was also speculated that ''The Guardian'' might become the first British national daily paper to be fully online.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rayner |first=Gordon |title=Riches to rags as Guardian bleeds £33 million in a year |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 June 2011 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8583220/Riches-to-rags-as-Guardian-bleeds-33m-in-a-year.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8583220/Riches-to-rags-as-Guardian-bleeds-33m-in-a-year.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=21 October 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Guardian and Observer to adopt 'digital-first' strategy|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=16 June 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/16/guardian-observer-digital-first-strategy?INTCMP=SRCH|access-date=21 October 2011|last=Sabbagh|first=Dan|location=London|work=The Guardian|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413154658/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/16/guardian-observer-digital-first-strategy?INTCMP=SRCH|url-status=live}}</ref> For the three years up to June 2012, the paper lost £100,000 a day, which prompted ''Intelligent Life'' to question whether ''The Guardian'' could survive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/ideas/tim-de-lisle/can-guardian-survive |title=Can The Guardian Survive? |publisher=More Intelligent Life |access-date=11 August 2013 |archive-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819142430/http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/ideas/tim-de-lisle/can-guardian-survive |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between 2007 and 2014 ''The Guardian Media Group'' sold all their side businesses, of regional papers and online portals for classifieds, and consolidated into ''The Guardian'' as sole product. The sales let them acquire a capital stock of £838.3 million as of July 2014, supposed to guarantee the independence of the ''Guardian'' in perpetuity. In the first year, the paper made more losses than predicted, and in January 2016 the publishers announced that ''The Guardian'' would cut 20 per cent of staff and costs within the next three years.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jane Martinson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/25/guardian-news-media-to-cut-running-costs |title=Guardian News & Media to cut costs by 20 per cent | Media |work=The Guardian |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307105243/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/25/guardian-news-media-to-cut-running-costs |url-status=live }}</ref> The newspaper is rare in calling for direct contributions "to deliver the independent journalism the world needs."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.theguardian.com/uk|title=Support The Guardian|website=support.theguardian.com|language=en|access-date=3 August 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803070900/https://support.theguardian.com/uk|url-status=live}}</ref> The Guardian Media Group's 2018 annual report (year ending 1 April 2018) indicated some significant changes occurring. Its digital (online) editions accounted for over 50% of group revenues by that time; the loss from news and media operations was £18.6 million, 52% lower than during the prior year (2017: £38.9 million). The Group had cut costs by £19.1 million, partly by switching its print edition to the tabloid format. The Guardian Media Group's owner, the Scott Trust Endowment Fund, reported that its value at the time was £1.01 billion (2017: £1.03 billion).<ref>{{cite news |title=Guardian Media Group plc (GMG) results for the financial year ended 1 April 2018 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/2018/jul/24/guardian-media-group-plc-gmg-results-for-the-financial-year-ended-1-april-2018 |work=The Guardian |date=24 July 2018 |access-date=17 December 2018 |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103051014/https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/2018/jul/24/guardian-media-group-plc-gmg-results-for-the-financial-year-ended-1-april-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following financial report (for the year 2018–2019), the group reported a profit ([[EBITDA]]) of £0.8 million before exceptional items, thus breaking even in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/2019/aug/07/guardian-media-group-plc-gmg-publishes-201819-statutory-financial-results|title=Guardian Media Group plc (GMG) publishes 2018/19 statutory financial results|date=7 August 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=26 August 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809061605/https://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-office/2019/aug/07/guardian-media-group-plc-gmg-publishes-201819-statutory-financial-results|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/aug/07/guardian-broke-even-last-year-parent-company-confirms|title=Guardian broke even last year, parent company confirms|first=Jim|last=Watson|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 August 2019|access-date=26 August 2020|via=www.theguardian.com|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809113007/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/aug/07/guardian-broke-even-last-year-parent-company-confirms|url-status=live}}</ref> To be sustainable, the annual subsidy must fall within the £25 million of interest returned on the investments from the Scott Trust Endowment Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/guardian-digital-reader-revenue-climbs-during-pandemic-year-with-half-from-outside-uk/|title=Guardian digital reader revenue climbs during pandemic year with half from outside UK|author=Freddy Mayhew|date=27 July 2021|access-date=10 February 2022|archive-date=10 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210195629/https://pressgazette.co.uk/guardian-digital-reader-revenue-climbs-during-pandemic-year-with-half-from-outside-uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==="Membership" subscription scheme=== In 2014, ''The Guardian'' launched a membership scheme.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mance |first=Henry |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/39ad0574-390d-11e4-9526-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3g9bCAVkc |title=Guardian launches paid membership scheme |publisher=FT.com |date=10 September 2014 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103172414/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/39ad0574-390d-11e4-9526-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3g9bCAVkc |url-status=live }}</ref> The scheme aims to reduce the financial losses incurred by ''The Guardian'' without introducing a [[paywall]], thus maintaining open access to the website. Website readers can pay a monthly subscription, with three tiers available.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://membership.theguardian.com/choose-tier|title=Join Choose Tier – The Guardian Members|work=theguardian|access-date=16 October 2016|archive-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019023901/https://membership.theguardian.com/choose-tier|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2018 this approach was considered successful, having brought more than 1 million subscriptions or donations, with the paper hoping to break even by April 2019.<ref name="guardian-20181112">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2018/nov/12/katharine-viner-guardian-million-reader-funding |title=The Guardian's reader funding model is working. It's inspiring |last=Viner |first=Katharine |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 November 2018 |access-date=12 November 2018 |archive-date=12 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112100156/https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2018/nov/12/katharine-viner-guardian-million-reader-funding |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Foundation funding=== [[File:The Guardian Foundation - Senate House History Day 2019.jpg|thumb|The Guardian Foundation at the Senate House History Day, 2019]] In 2016, the company established a U.S.-based philanthropic arm to raise money from individuals and organizations including think tanks and corporate foundations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tsang|first=Amie|date=28 August 2017|title=The Guardian Sets Up a Nonprofit to Support Its Journalism|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/business/media/guardian-non-profit-philanthropy.html|access-date=31 December 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014842/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/business/media/guardian-non-profit-philanthropy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The grants are focused by the donors on particular issues. By the following year, the organization had raised $1 million from the likes of [[Pierre Omidyar]]'s Humanity United, the [[Skoll Foundation]], and the [[Conrad N. Hilton Foundation]] to finance reporting on topics including modern-day slavery and climate change. ''The Guardian'' has stated that it has secured $6 million "in multi-year funding commitments" thus far.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/08/could-the-guardians-quest-for-philanthropic-support-squeeze-out-other-news-nonprofits/|title=Could The Guardian's quest for philanthropic support squeeze out other news nonprofits?|work=Nieman Lab|access-date=6 August 2018|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032914/http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/08/could-the-guardians-quest-for-philanthropic-support-squeeze-out-other-news-nonprofits/|url-status=live}}</ref> The new project developed from funding relationships which the paper already had with the [[Ford Foundation|Ford]], [[Rockefeller Foundation|Rockefeller]], and [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/guardian-announces-launch-of-u.s.-nonprofit|title=Guardian Announces Launch of U.S. Nonprofit|last=Center|first=Foundation|work=Philanthropy News Digest (PND)|access-date=6 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032508/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/guardian-announces-launch-of-u.s.-nonprofit|url-status=live}}</ref> Gates had given the organization $5 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2011/08/OPP1034962|title=OPP1034962|website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|language=en|access-date=8 August 2018|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809024955/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2011/08/OPP1034962|url-status=live}}</ref> for its Global Development webpage.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Schiffrin|first=Anya|date=2015|title=Can We Measure Media Impact? Surveying the Field|url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/can_we_measure_media_impact_surveying_the_field|journal=Stanford Social Innovation Review|location=Warrendale, PA|edition=Fall 2015|access-date=8 August 2018|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808233940/https://ssir.org/articles/entry/can_we_measure_media_impact_surveying_the_field|url-status=live}}</ref> As of March 2020, the journal claims to be "the first major global news organisation to institute an outright ban on taking money from companies that extract fossil fuels."<ref>{{cite web | first1 = Jim | last1 = Waterson | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/29/guardian-to-ban-advertising-from-fossil-fuel-firms-climate-crisis | title = Guardian to ban advertising from fossil fuel firms | website = [[TheGuardian.com]] | date = 29 January 2020 | access-date = 11 February 2021 | archive-date = 5 March 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210305150159/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/29/guardian-to-ban-advertising-from-fossil-fuel-firms-climate-crisis | url-status = live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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