For all of us, 2020 has already been a whirlwind of dramatic events -- from the Democratic primary, to the Covid-19 outbreak and the resulting public health and economic crises, to the recent outpouring of protests in support of black lives and in opposition to police violence. Meanwhile, a monumentally important presidential election looms a few short months in our future.
Journalists worldwide have risen to the moment. I’ve read inspiring coverage over the past few months, not just in the pages of In These Times, but in other publications as well. Meanwhile, more and more readers are relying on news sources they trust to navigate this difficult moment.
But despite record levels of readership, journalism is facing what has been described as an “extinction level event.”
For decades the news industry’s economic model has been built on ad sales, but as advertisers scale back their spending due to Covid-19, many media organizations have been forced to cut back on coverage, and to postpone or cancel their print editions. In some cases, newsrooms have closed up altogether.
For our community of readers, In These Times can’t let that happen. To survive this moment and to build towards a better future, we have only one option: Double down on reader support.
Here’s what we’re doing:
1) Starting in September, InTheseTimes.com will be completely ad-free, while our online content will remain free to all, with no paywalls.
2) Effective immediately, we will be minimizing ads in the print magazine, and whenever possible we will try to feature advertisers whose work is aligned with our mission.
3) We are setting a goal of reaching 10,000 annual donors -- and we’re hoping you’ll help us get there by making a donation today.
Throughout history, an over-reliance on advertising revenue has posed a threat to editorial independence. It’s now clear, however, that it doesn’t work as an economic model either. It’s clear that our model of reader-support is the future of independent journalism.
I’m asking you to join your fellow readers in a grand experiment to rebuild the journalism industry, free of advertiser influence and corporate control. Any gift, no matter the size, will make a difference when multiplied by 10,000 fellow readers.
This is a dark and dangerous moment, not just for the journalism industry, but for our country as a whole. But it has also given all of us an opportunity to respond by rebuilding a new and better world.
In solidarity,
Joel Bleifuss
Editor & Publisher
P.S. We know that many of our readers have been financially strapped
by this crisis. Whether or not you can pitch in today, we are grateful
to have you as part of the In These Times community. Please stay healthy and safe as we continue to navigate life during these challenging times.
In These Times is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, reader-funded publication. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law (EIN: 94-2889692).
