When The Washington Post and its billionaire owner fired the majority of its local reporters, along with hundreds of their colleagues, it dealt a brutal blow to D.C. residents’ ability to hold elected officials accountable, make informed decisions, and feel connected to their neighbors.
We want to be the newsroom D.C. needs at this critical time, so we’re raising funds to triple our reporting capacity. Success means converting a part-time editor to full-time, hiring a longtime freelance reporter, and hiring a third reporter, whom we hope will be a laid-off Washington Post journalist. We need your help to do it!
It’s hard to find hope amidst so much collapse. But in the wreckage of today’s crises, people are also powering solutions — and The 51st, backed by the community of D.C., is one of them. We're launching this campaign after 700+ paid members already joined us last week. Because of that, we're already 1/3 of the way to the goal!
We’re small and under no illusion that we alone can fill the void left by the journalists we’ve lost at The Post. But we also know that we’re building in a steady and sustainable way, funded predominantly by reader support. That foundation, sustained by D.C. residents, is a lot sturdier than the whims of a billionaire.
The 51st grew out of the ashes of a catastrophic loss for D.C. — WAMU’s decision to shutter DCist and lay off 16 newsroom employees. With your help, we’re fighting back against the destruction of journalism again to create more of what D.C. deserves: news that makes people’s lives better; funded by readers and led by local journalists.
We have big ambitions: to be D.C.’s go-to source for local news — one where residents of all 8 wards can feel seen, heard, and connected. It’s a mission that has always felt urgent, but after The Post’s executives abandoned our city, we know we need to kick it into high gear.
We hope you’ll join us in building something new – something a billionaire can’t break.
There are many tax-deductible ways to support this goal:
As we continue to grow, we’re also looking for grant opportunities, foundations to support our work, and major donors to offer matches.
Spreading the word is also a HUGE help! Share this link on social media, email family and friends, drop it in the group chat, etc.: 51st.news/big-plans
Thank you for being here! In solidarity, The 51st team
With your help, we pursue stories that hold leaders to account, demystify opaque city and civic processes, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that make us proud to call D.C. home. Put simply, our mission is to make it easier — and more fun — to live in the District. Our members help keep local news free and independent for all:
