Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
Tyee News

Joan Thomas Is a Tyee Builder

Join this fiction dynamo as a Builder, and get a copy of her Giller-shortlisted novel. What hooks her after a long day of writing?

Tyee Staff 26 Apr 2012TheTyee.ca

image atom
Joan Thomas, Tyee Builder

"What hooks me, after a day of writing, is skiing down the back yard onto a wordless frozen river, and spying cedar waxwings in the willows on the bank." -- Joan Thomas

What else can't Joan do without? The thoughtful, feisty reporting that The Tyee publishes every day of the week. Click on the big yellow button below to learn more about how to join Joan and the rest of the Builders who support The Tyee.

    Click to Become a Tyee Builder

Having Joan on the Tyee's team means a lot to us: besides being an award-winning author, she is also an accomplished journalist. Prior to Joan's success as a novelist, Joan worked as a freelance reporter and book reviewer and, in 1996, won a National Magazine Award for her journalism. Joan understands the importance of independent media, and we think you do too. Please, follow Joan's lead and become a Tyee Builder today, and help make sure that Canadian independents keep up with the mainstream players in our country's media scene.

About this Tyee Builder: Joan Thomas is a Canadian novelist and short story writer based in Winnipeg, MB. Her first novel, Reading by Lightning, won the 2009 Commonwealth Prize for Best First Book and the Amazon.ca First Book Award. Her second novel, Curiosity, was nominated for several awards, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize. You can see The Tyee's take on Curiosity here.

About the Tyee Builder Program: Want to give independent Canadian journalism a boost? You've come to the right place. The Tyee is trying to become fully sustainable. In order to do so, we've launched the Tyee Builders program to allow readers who love The Tyee's work to help fund more of it.

Every penny you support us with will go directly to pay Tyee writers and editors. And besides the warm, fuzzy feelings you'll get knowing you're helping dial up the volume on an independent voice in Canadian media, we've come up with a few other ways to thank you. Click on "Hammertime" above to learn more and start Building!

[Tyee]

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll