Cardinal & Pine
U.S. left-leaning
Background
Cardinal & Pine was founded in 2020 as part of Courier Newsroom, a progressive digital media company created with the explicit goal of building local news capacity in politically competitive states to reach Democratic-leaning readers. Courier Newsroom is affiliated with ACRONYM, a progressive nonprofit that works on digital media and voter outreach. The outlet focuses exclusively on North Carolina, with particular attention to rural communities and populations underserved by legacy media. It has grown a newsletter audience of more than 100,000 North Carolina readers. Critics, including conservative outlets and some press-freedom watchdogs, have labeled it an example of 'pink-slime journalism' — sites that resemble independent local news but have undisclosed ideological and financial ties. Media Bias/Fact Check rates it as left-center in bias and mixed on factual accuracy. The outlet does not prominently disclose its Courier Newsroom affiliation or progressive investor backing on its homepage, a transparency gap that has drawn sustained criticism. Its editorial record shows consistent focus on civil rights, voting access, healthcare, and negative consequences of Republican-backed policies at the state and federal level.
Sources
- Cardinal & Pine – Media Bias/Fact Check
- Pink-slime journalism comes to NC's Senate race – Asheville Watchdog
- Dark money-funded political activism masquerades as journalism – North State Journal
- Cardinal & Pine official website
- Voices for Veterans – VA cuts under Trump (Cardinal & Pine event)
Profile compiled 2026-09-16; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.