It's been a difficult decade for news media.
The old model was simple: Businesses bought advertising, and newspapers used that ad money to pay reporters (and to generate modest, if not skyrocketing, profits).
But ad dollars have been moving online for years now, only to be gobbled up by corporate giants such as Facebook and Google with no ties, or responsibility, to any one community. Meanwhile, corporate buyouts left legacy media outlets in fewer and greedier hands. All that came at the expense of independent local coverage.
It's a perfect storm for destroying journalism.
Then last March, an unprecedented public health crisis ground our economy to a halt, forcing advertisers to make difficult spending choices and forcing the Riverfront Times to press pause on the events that help fund our mission.
After 30 years serving this community, our paper is rethinking how it operates, and I'm asking you to be a partner on that journey.
No, The Riverfront Times isn't about to close its doors. We're still printing and distributing our free paper, and more readers than ever seek us out online, where we still have no paywall shutting them out from our reporting.
In these unusual times, our city needs deeper, more insightful, solutions-based journalism, not less. We know readers depend on our daily coverage of arts, music, food and entertainment, alongside the news coverage that seeks to keep our local leaders accountable.
It's especially important to us that everyone, regardless of income, can access our work. The Riverfront Times has been a free publication since its inception. Reporting the news and giving it away for free may be a utopian idea, but it's one we refuse to give up on.
Ultimately, however, journalism requires resources. That's where The Riverfront Times Press Club comes in – and where we need your help. If you agree that St. Louis needs independent journalism now more than ever, I invite you to make a secure contribution, much as you do to your local PBS or NPR outlet.
We know our request comes as other organizations reach out to fund worthy missions. But we also know others in St. Louis share our view that independent local journalism is key to building a better city. No doubt many of you will view this as an investment in the community we love.
We don't have subscription fees or a paywall because we believe that accessible, quality journalism is the backbone of a strong democracy, healthy civic conversations and a vibrant business community — and that journalism needs to be available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
We hope you agree, and that you're willing to take the next step in supporting your community by becoming a member of The Riverfront Times Press Club. Join thousands of your neighbors by backing reporting that helps St. Louis thrive. To sweeten the pot, we even created exclusive benefits including behind-the-scenes newsletters and local discounts. Read more about the Press Club here.
Sincerely,
Doyle Murphy, Editor-in-Chief
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Keep a civil tongue.