The Daily Signal Enters New Era as Independent Media Outlet

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2024—Ten years after The Heritage Foundation created The Daily Signal, the news outlet is incorporating as its own independent media organization with the goal of expanding its reach and influence.

Heritage’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution paving the way for The Daily Signal to spin off as a new entity with its own board and leadership. Rob Bluey, executive editor and founding editor-in-chief, will serve as The Daily Signal’s president.

“The media landscape is rapidly changing and so is The Daily Signal,” Bluey said. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to build on our recent growth thanks to our talented team of reporters and editors. Under our new structure, The Daily Signal is committed to delivering hard-hitting investigative journalism, exclusive reporting on Congress, and timely commentary for Americans who seek an intelligent source of information.”

Over the past 10 years, The Daily Signal emerged as a trusted media outlet serving an audience of everyday Americans. With its email newsletters, popular social media channels, and daily podcasts and videos, The Daily Signal helps conservatives and independent-minded citizens understand what is truly important and how policy decisions affect them and their families.

“The American people deserve a media outlet that covers the news fairly and accurately,” said Kevin D. Roberts, Ph.D., president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America. “The Daily Signal is delivering on that promise and poised for even greater success under its new structure and leadership team. If we are going to save the country, we need courageous media outlets—like The Daily Signal—that investigate stories and ask tough questions other legacy outlets are failing to do.”

As an independent entity, legally separate from Heritage, The Daily Signal will continue to produce high-quality reporting, publish commentary and analysis informed by conservative principles, and offer that content to any credible news outlet for publication free of charge.

Beginning on Monday, The Daily Signal will also commence a new yearlong fellowship program for aspiring journalists to learn the trade firsthand. Its first two fellows are Elizabeth Troutman, a graduate of Hillsdale College and former editor-in-chief of The Collegian student newspaper, and Elise McCue, a graduate of Virginia Tech who previously served as a fellow with the National Journalism Center.

The Daily Signal has 17 journalists on the team, including 12 full-time staff, who are listed below. The team is currently recruiting a congressional news reporter to lead its Capitol Hill coverage.

Heritage created The Daily Signal in 2014 with the belief that the news done right can build credibility and trust. In the past decade, The Daily Signal has excelled at producing stories about how Washington’s policymaking affects the American people and investigative reporting that holds government accountable.

“As a mission-oriented outlet, The Daily Signal is uniquely designed to provide the information Americans need to understand what is happening in our country,” said Editor-in-Chief Katrina Trinko, who joined the team in 2014 as The Daily Signal’s first hire. “We are taking this important step to ensure our team will have the opportunity to make an even greater impact in the future.”

Praise for The Daily Signal:

“With so many biased and unreliable news outlets, Americans today need a source they can trust. Over the past 10 years, The Daily Signal has consistently demonstrated its credibility covering Congress and policy debates in Washington. I’m proud to have worked with Rob Bluey and for the groundbreaking reporting he did for us, leading to Dan Rather’s ouster at CBS News. Congratulations to him and his team on this exciting development.”
—Brent Bozell, founder and president at Media Research Center

“When Bill Buckley launched National Review, his hope was not for a monopoly on conservative news and opinion but for the beginning of a profound movement marked by plentiful consequential voices. That is precisely what The Daily Signal is. I’m confident my old boss would be thrilled at the move to take this respected online journal and bring The Daily Signal’s vital mission and wisdom to millions more in the American public square, a place populated by responsible citizens who rightly seek trustworthy reporting and commentary, and who know deeply how important such is to the future of our Republic.”
—Jack Fowler, senior director of strategic partnerships at AmPhil and former publisher of National Review

“The staff of The Daily Signal has great veteran journalists—but I’ve also appreciated its willingness and ability to help young writers start their careers with jobs and fellowships. That gives me hope for the future. After all, we’re living at a time when conservative media are competing for the hearts and minds of the American people thanks to endless possibilities offered by the internet.”
—John J. Miller, director of the Dow Journalism Program at Hillsdale College