Governance

Oakland Voices is a program of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Key points

• The Maynard Institute's Board of Directors provides legal and fiduciary oversight of the Institute and its programs, including Oakland Voices.
• The Maynard Institute provides organizational oversight, but Oakland Voices maintains a separation between its editorial decisions and its donors, sponsors and other revenue sources.
• Oakland Voices is developing a community advisory structure to strengthen accountability to the Oakland residents and communities we serve.
• Community advisors may offer input on community information needs, program priorities, public engagement and the accessibility of our work.
• More information regarding the advisory structure and its members will be published as it is established.

For context, the Maynard Institute's Board of Directors provides legal and fiduciary oversight of the Institute and its programs, including Oakland Voices. Oakland Voices' day-to-day programmatic and editorial decisions are managed by Oakland Voices staff. Meet the Maynard Institute Board of Directors. Oakland Voices community advisors.

Community advisors may offer input on community information needs, program priorities, public engagement and the accessibility of our work. Advisors will not assign, approve or suppress individual stories, and editorial decisions will remain with Oakland Voices.

For context, the Maynard Institute provides organizational oversight, but Oakland Voices maintains a separation between its editorial decisions and its donors, sponsors and other revenue sources. Last reviewed: August 21, 2026.

Taken together, the developments around governance point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.