The Frisc, an independent nonprofit news outlet in San Francisco, is shutting down after nearly a decade of operation due to funding shortages. Founder Alex Lash informed the San Francisco Standard that the publication will cease operations at the end of September 2026 after exhausting its financial resources. Lash mentioned that he is personally covering the costs of the publication's farewell party.
The Frisc was launched in 2017 by Lash, along with journalists Anthony Lazarus and Barry Owen, and designer Jeremy LaCroix, to address perceived gaps in local news coverage. Over its nine years, the outlet published numerous stories, focusing initially on San Francisco's housing crisis and later expanding to cover issues such as homelessness, public school enrollment, public transportation, and street safety.
Lash transitioned to running The Frisc full-time in 2019 after leaving his position as national biotech editor at Xconomy. However, securing funding became increasingly difficult in 2025, as the publication relied on donations and faced heightened competition for nonprofit journalism funding following the cessation of federal support for public radio stations like KQED.
The Frisc also encountered challenges in establishing a distinct identity within San Francisco's competitive local media landscape. Although it ceased endorsing political candidates after becoming a nonprofit, it continued to advocate for policies promoting denser, more affordable housing and improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Lash described the publication's perspective as broadly “urbanist.”
The closure of The Frisc occurs amid a rise in local news organizations in San Francisco, just as it approached its 10th anniversary. Senior editor Lisa Plachy expressed sadness over the shutdown, highlighting the impact on the publication and its team. The outlet faced a significant loss in 2020 with the death of co-founder Owen due to pancreatic cancer, who was instrumental in balancing coverage of the city's challenges with positive stories about San Francisco.
Lazarus departed from the project in 2024 and has since left journalism. Following the closure, Lash plans to take a break before seeking new opportunities in the journalism field. In his announcement, he remarked, “In the best of times, nonprofit media is no easy lift. These are not the best of times.”