The growing number of investigative news outlets run by non-profit groups has sparked a call for more transparency about who is funding these groups and what their focus is, according to a report issued by three of the newest news outlets.

The report followed a January roundtable meeting of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and the College of Media at the University of Illinois, according to Wisconsinwatch.org. Additional support was provided by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation of Oklahoma City.

“The report puts forward ethical principles and best practices to help nonprofit journalists address key issues such as dealing with donors, avoiding conflicts of interest, and developing ethical guidelines for networks of nonprofit centers,” Wisconsinwatch reports. “The report also outlines legal considerations for nonprofit journalism and explores nonprofit journalism in Canada.”

“This report breaks new ground on the ethical questions that confront these new important ventures,” Stephen J.A. Ward, Burgess Professor of Journalism Ethics and director of the Center for Journalism Ethics, said in the story. “We hope the report will prompt further discussion and further development of best practices.”