Yes, the red banner at the top of the page looks ugly: there’s a reason

By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor  —  I’m not thrilled to have to mar our “front page” with a bright red banner asking for donations. However, it’s part of the business. Editors are not supposed to have to deal with the money matters. Notwithstanding, when you’re the guy sitting at the desk and are the person responsible for keeping your news and information flowing on a daily basis, you do what you have to do.

The Herald is bulldozing toward its third year. And we have no one to thank more than you, our loyal readers.

Nonprofit journalism is a fairly new concept

As a nonprofit, we’re a different animal. We are trying the best way we know how to get local news out to our communities. We understand, as most all of you do, how important it is to keep the public informed. An uninformed public is at risk to misinformation, biased or skewed rumors, and one-sided information. As a community member, you should expect to be informed of current events, the safety of your neighborhood, and the actions of your elected officials.

We believe strongly that investigative/local/in-depth journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong community. And with next year’s election around the corner, the stakes have never felt higher. 

That’s why we’re excited to share that we have an incredible opportunity to increase the impact of your donation through NewsMatch, a collaborative fundraising movement to support independent, public service journalism like ours.

Through NewsMatch, The Herald can double your donation

From now through the end of the year, NewsMatch will match your new monthly donation 12 times or double your one-time gift, all up to $1,500 per individual. The stakes are high: We can earn up to $13,000 in matching dollars, which means the Highway 58 Herald can raise $26,000 in total with the help of NewsMatch. Our year-end goal is to raise $50,000

We cannot overstate the importance of this fundraising campaign, which will help set us up for 2024 and ensure we continue to produce reporting that can make a real difference in our communities. 

We believe journalism should serve the public interest—not private profits. But we need support from folks like you to uphold that mission. A stronger community begins with you. Will you invest in us? 

Thank you.