Jim Hummel
Jim Hummel was championing independent journalism long before Substack newsletters or podcasts became part of the conversation. A veteran of both The Providence Journal and ABC Channel 6, saw the writing on the wall: traditional media was changing fast. In 2009—while newsrooms everywhere were shrinking—he took a calculated risk and launched The Hummel Report, an independent newsroom built on accountability and innovation.
Through partnerships with WPRO 630 AM and 99.7 FM, Rhode Island PBS, and The Providence Journal, Hummel built a multiplatform model that delivers the kind of tough, investigative journalism he made famous with his “You Paid for It” series. The Hummel Report remains fiercely independent, funded by individual and corporate donors and private foundations, but never politicians, political groups, or taxpayer money.
Beyond investigations, The Hummel Report also shines a light on what’s working. Its Rhode Island Spotlight series celebrates everyday people and organizations making a difference, reflecting Hummel’s belief that journalism should expose wrongdoing and elevate those doing good.
Since 2016, he’s also moderated “A Lively Experiment,” Rhode Island’s signature political roundtable, bringing more than four decades of reporting experience and a sharp, fair voice to the state’s most pressing debates.
Hummel’s career mirrors the evolution of journalism itself—from the newsroom to the studio to the digital frontier. Long before the idea of reporters owning their own careers became part of the media landscape, he understood that independence and trust would define the future. His work now stands as a model for how serious investigative reporting can thrive in a world where traditional newsrooms continue to contract.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in journalism and political science, Hummel has earned an Edward R. Murrow Award, two Associated Press Awards for investigative reporting, and five regional Emmy nominations—recognition of a lifelong commitment to keeping those in power honest and the public informed.