A new research project by Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, and the Information Society Project, Yale Law School, Yale University has begun.

The impact of charity and tax law/regulation on not-for-profit news organisations explores the impact of national charity and tax laws and regulation to establish and operate not-for-profit organisations. The study focuses on the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Ireland.

The project will compare policies between countries and assess how they will affect development of both start-ups and existing news companies that wish to be charities. It aims to identify best practices in policy and regulation.

The project will be completed in late 2015 with publication of results expected in early 2016. It is directed by Robert G. Picard of Reuters Institute. Read more about the project, including its research questions, here.