John Adams, who founded Montana Free Press a decade ago working out of his pickup, announced on Tuesday that he will step down as CEO of the nonprofit organization.
Adams’ last day will be June 1 as he works with board members to interview candidates and identify a successor.
The CEO made the announcement to staff at a morning meeting on Tuesday. In a later interview, Adams said it was “surreal” to be at a place where Montana Free Press could be passed to a new generation of leadership.
“I’m kind of just blown away as I reflect on everything that’s happened in the last 10 or 12 years and how many people deserve credit for helping to make this thing a success,” Adams said.
Adams said that he has been working with the board for months to prepare for the transition.
MTFP began in 2016 after Adams left the Great Falls Tribune, where he had been the newspaper’s capital bureau chief, amid a corporate restructuring. His early coverage leaned heavily into Montana politics, which was Adams’ specialty as the lone staff member at the start.
Adams’ work and Montana Free Press featured prominently in the 2018 documentary “Dark Money,” which explored the rise of independent corporate spending and its influence on elections. While the film boosted the reputation of Montana Free Press, Adams said that it was coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic that laid the groundwork for the outlet’s current success.
“So much of what we are doing today kind of had its origins in COVID, where the public had a deep need for accurate information, [and] we were positioned to help get that information and provide it to the public,” he said.
During that time, MTFP started sending daily email newsletters and built a “dashboard” to track cases around Montana. Newsletters and custom-built tools, such as the election guide, have become regular products from MTFP.
In recent years, the outlet launched MTFP Local and has hired reporters in four Montana cities to cover community issues. In 2024, MTFP acquired Mountain Journal, which covers environment and policy in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In 2026, MTFP led the launch of Local News Day, a national initiative supporting community-based journalism.
MTFP’s staff has grown to 25.
Adams said that he has looked for years toward a time when MTFP would outlast his tenure and sees it as a mark of success. A hiring committee, composed of members of MTFP’s Board of Directors, will lead the national search for the next CEO.
“We recognize that selecting MTFP’s next CEO is one of the board’s most important responsibilities,” Anne Avis, who is chair of the search committee and vice-chair of the MTFP board, said in a press release.
As a nonprofit news organization, Adams said its independence comes from a broad, diverse donor base.
“I think it will continue to sustain and continue to thrive if Montanans continue to say, ‘This is something that really matters to us,'” he said. “And I’m excited to see that flourish beyond my 10 years as its leader.”
Adams said his future plans are still undecided.
This article was updated on Oct. 13, 2026 to correct the spelling of Anne Avis’ name and the role of Montana Free Press’ Board of Directors.
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