The Trust Project

The Trust Project is a non-profit organization based in Pacifica, California. With a team of four employees, the organization focuses on building trust in the news media through transparency. Founded by journalist Sally Lehrman, The Trust Project operates as an international consortium of news organizations collaborating to improve the trustworthiness of the press. The Trust Project's core mission is centered around developing and implementing a system of eight Trust Indicators®. These indicators provide users with clear disclosures about news outlets, producers, and the commitments behind a story, empowering them to make informed choices about the news they consume. To facilitate this, The Trust Project works with digital platforms like Google, Meta, and Bing to integrate Trust Indicators into their platforms, helping users identify quality news sources. The Trust Project's approach is driven by user-centered design principles. They conducted extensive research through interviews with a diverse range of public voices and news executives to understand the needs and concerns of users regarding news credibility. This research informed the development of the Trust Indicators and the overall Trust Protocol, ensuring the system is effective and user-friendly. The Trust Project's materials and resources are available to reputable news companies that meet their participation requirements, including adherence to the Trust Protocol. Interested organizations can learn more about joining The Trust Project and its initiatives by visiting their website at thetrustproject.org.