Photo courtesy: Trish Rodriguez Terrell, Fort Worth Report

Last month, after learning the co-working space they were leasing was about to permanently close, staff members at the Fort Worth Report had less than a business day to move out. Today, its staff has a new temporary home: Texas Wesleyan’s Jack Morton Business Accelerator.  

“[Texas] Wesleyan President Fred Slabach graciously and quickly offered the space as our temporary home after I emailed him” said Chris Cobler, publisher and CEO of the Fort Worth Report, in a piece he wrote for the online news outlet. “Before the morning was out, Slabach had emailed me twice and identified the spot on Rosedale for us.” 

“When Chris reached out looking for a space to continue his staff’s valuable work, I thought the Jack Morton Business Accelerator would be ideal,” said President Slabach. “Local journalism is more important than ever. I am pleased Texas Wesleyan can support Fort Worth Report’s mission of informing Fort Worth and Tarrant County.” 

Fort Worth Report began using the Accelerator in mid-December, with the current agreement running March. But Texas Wesleyan and Fort Worth Report are discussing longer-term options, including potentially occupying one of the empty storefronts on the 3000 block of E. Rosedale. Fort Worth Report staff have also been flexible in accommodating continued School of Business Administration faculty and student use of the Accelerator, and are discussing collaborating with the Department of Mass Communications and the Rambler Media Group on future student opportunities. 

“Texas Wesleyan is trying to promote a Rosedale Renaissance in southeast Fort Worth, and the Report is trying to do the same for local journalism,” said Cobbler. 

Read Chris’s full piece on the Fort Worth Report’s website.