A couple weeks ago, my colleague Maddie and I attended a screening of The Beat Goes On: The Story of the Baltimore Beat. The documentary featured Lisa Snowden, the editor-in-chief of a community-centered newsroom that rose from the ashes of Baltimore City Paper.
Sound familiar?
I left inspired, invigorated, and feeling seen. Not only does the Baltimore Beat’s journey mirror The 51st’s, but Lisa — a mom and Black journalist who found her voice writing for a predominantly white-run outlet — reminded me that my work and experiences as an African American woman are vital to local news.
As we enter the holiday season, I’d like to thank you, our subscribers. It’s because of you that our scrappy worker-led newsroom can produce impactful stories that reflect the richness and diversity of D.C. It’s also thrilling to connect with you in person — whether at an ice cream pop-up at Benning Road Library or at our game show series, “Ask A D.C. Native, Live!” (Will I see you at next month’s holiday edition?)
And as we fundraise for our newsroom’s future, all gifts and memberships (and gift memberships!) will be doubled through the end of the year thanks to a program called Newsmatch.
But we also know that times are tough. If you can’t contribute financially, we’d love it if you join our referral challenge, where you can access a unique signup link to recruit 51st subscribers for a chance to win prizes.
What I saw in the Baltimore Beat’s success — and what I’ve learned from you — is that we accomplish big goals by working together, and with everyone contributing what they can. Are you in?
Take care and happy holidays,
Christina
P.S. If you’ve been on the fence about membership: Maybe this exclusive shirt is perfect for someone on your holiday gifting list? It’s available until Dec. 5th!
Christina is an editor at The 51st, who's written for more than two dozen publications. As a staff writer at DCist, she wrote more than 1,600 stories about life in The District.
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:
