Tooting our own horn
You've helped us do a lot in less than a year. Here's how we can do even more.
Colleen here, writing with exciting news about news: We’re finalists for six (!) Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. We think that’s pretty awesome, considering this time last year, we were sitting around crossing our fingers and toes that we could raise enough money to make The 51st a real thing. And look at what we’ve done thanks to your support!
Obviously, we are not in this for awards. This type of stuff wasn’t on our radar when we sat down and decided to build a worker-led local outlet. We just wanted to report important stories that mattered to D.C. residents and that made our city better, in a newsroom that answered to our neighbors and not a board of suits. But this recognition goes to show what’s possible when journalism is made by and for the community, with the community’s support.
This work is only possible thanks to your help. We’re funded almost entirely by our subscribers. It's a model we value (why else would we be doing this?!), but it's also a precarious model for sustainability. Since the Trump administration began gutting the federal workforce, we're seeing more and more members canceling paid subscriptions, citing job loss and financial strain.
So we’re asking, if you are in a place to afford a monthly or annual membership, please join us today.
That way, awards or not, we can continue making the type of local news that creates a more engaged, more informed, and more equitable D.C.
P.S.: If you’re able to support with a larger gift, we are looking for major donors to help grow our newsroom (as in, hiring our first full-time reporter and editor!) Reply here or email Maddie Poore. We’d love to discuss!
