Support Your Local Reporter

Rebuilding local news is about having a good reporter in your town

Journalist Steven Waldman who runs “Rebuild Local News” wrote a rare optimistic essay in The Atlantic on the future of local news. Waldman said that it’s possible to rebuild a local news organization that is smaller, less costly and more responsive than the print newspaper it replaces. It doesn’t require all that much money, he says. A local news organization needs good reporting AND an audience of people who are willing to pay for it.

Sebastopol Times is part of this movement to rebuild local news. We can only do what we do if enough subscribers support us doing it. Paid subscribers pay for the cost of producing local news, and generate a greater community benefit that local news is distributed and consumed freely.

Those who pay $60/year as a paid subscriber help us pay Laura, our reporter, and one part-time reporter to develop the stories that we send to you. From our start twenty-two months ago, we have grown to 654 subscribers out of a total of 2,700 subscribers. Our annual revenue is just over $40,000. However, we need more paid subscribers and we hope each current paid subscriber will renew their annual subscription.

What Laura is paid for her daily reporting and writing is, frankly, not enough. She is unbelievably dedicated and knowledgeable, a perfect fit for our needs. My goal is to raise her salary in 2024 and we can do that with your support through an annual subscription or a one-time gift.

I’d like to share a note of appreciation from Rob Schmidt of Many Rivers Books & Tea.

Just a note to express appreciation for what you two are doing with the Sebastopol Times.  I only became acquainted with your online periodical recently, but I am so impressed with the quality of writing that you both bring to the project of providing information about what's happening in and around town.  I have never read a small town paper bring such quality writing to the events that you cover.  Felicitations and congratulations on your good work  As print newspapers founder, I now see the example that you provide as a way to inform a local community in ways that I have never seen small town papers do.  The detailed and objective coverage of city council and school board meetings is just one class of examples I would point to in this regard.  Anyway, Bravo and Brava, and keep up the excellent work! 

We know many appreciate the Sebastopol Times, and that’s gratifying. Here’s a postcard of other comments from our happy subscribers.

Remember, what your subscription pays for is a reporter. Laura asks questions, sits through meetings, does follow ups and then writes about what’s most important for you to know about the City of Sebastopol and the West County. Help us properly reward her for her great work.