Tyee Donors Are Telling Us Their Top Election Issues

What started out as an experiment to measure Tyee readers' passions about provincial election issues -- and their willingness to fund reporting about those issues -- is yielding impressive results.

The Tyee launched its Election Reporting Issues fundraising drive on Monday. We asked our community of readers to donate what they could, and to tell us what issues matter most to them. We promised to put every dollar of their contribution towards in-depth coverage of their issue between April 14, when the writ drops, and May 12, when British Columbians cast their votes in the provincial election.

As of Thursday, April 9, Tyee readers had contributed $6,718, enough to hire an extra reporter a day for the election, and pay for some extra travel expenses to boot.

The drive continues through April 14, and every new dollar contributed will pay for more reporting on election issues here at The Tyee.

Readers send a message

What issues are most important to Tyee readers? As the graph above shows, the corruption tops the list, followed closely by environment, housing/homelessness/poverty, and education. We're mindful that these are broad categories and are paying close attention to the specifics donors mention when they make their contributions. For example, in the environment category many have instructed us to focus on run-of-river energy projects and transportation.

A good number of Tyee readers made contributions without naming an issue most important to them. We are grateful for the flexibility that allows, while making sure that every one of their dollars goes to coverage of election issues, as well.

At a moment when corporate media is struggling to meet its bottom line and the CBC is seeing its funding cut, Tyee readers have sent a clear message that investigative reporting, especially during election time, is a high priority.

And this way of raising money to support that reporting is making some news even beyond B.C.'s borders. Here's a story about us on the web-based Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Still time to give

With four days to go until the end of our Election Issues Reporting Fund appeal, we'd like to thank everyone who helped us get this far.

And to those who haven't yet given, we invite you to take a look at the graph above. See an issue you'd like to bump up a little higher? Want to put something different on the Tyee's agenda -- and in the minds of B.C. voters?

There are four days left to pay securely online , and to register your vote for most important election issue for Tyee coverage.

Or to send a cheque to this address.

The Tyee / Countercurrent Media
Election Issues
SUITE 480 - 425 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 6E2

Please note: your contribution to The Tyee Election Reporting Fund is not tax-deductable. (Political coverage is not considered charitable by Revenue Canada.)

Many thanks to all who have already made our drive a big success, and to those who might help us reach even higher -- $10,000 is in range. That would allow us to more than double The Tyee's election coverage. Can we do it? Together, let's try.