I thought about that too, but I can’t figure out how to tell them they have full editorial control… In our capitalist system, the idea of losing that funding is coercive in and of itself. Even if I‘d have a water tight contract, they probably don’t have the resources to check that before signing.

I think you would set them up as nonprofits and endow the nonprofits with enough money that their operating expenses are covered indefinitely, though if they sell enough ads they can always expand. Then you make sure the nonprofit boards represent the community and reporters, and stand back.