Here's what we're up against....

Global tech giants blocking Canadian news on their platforms. Political candidates purposely eroding trust in journalists. AI slop enabling a flourishing of misinformation online, with no accountability. Billionaire newspaper owners blatantly interfering with the editorial choices of their newsrooms.

To be a news publisher these days, committed to the slow, methodical work of talking to real people, verifying facts, is incredibly challenging. Not only are there bad actors that intentionally try to stymy good quality reporting, the business environment for journalism has been fundamentally disrupted, meaning that many of the institutions we used to rely on for high-quality journalism are struggling.

Against many odds, though, The Tyee is making it work, with the help of our readers. We've chosen a path that seems improbable -- we don't have a paywall, and we're very selective with our advertising partners that we work with. And we've been growing our team of professional journalists and increased our freelance budget. The only reason we can do this is because a small percentage of our readers chip in to our editorial budget through our Tyee Builders program.

This amazing group of readers means that The Tyee has persisted and published essential public-interest journalism for the past 21 years, and we have a good shot at being around for a long time in the future. But we can only maintain and grow our operations if readers continue to show up.

In this time of uncertainty, and with a federal election coming up, we need good journalism now more than ever. If you appreciate what you read on The Tyee and would like to help our independent, non-profit do more, please consider joining Tyee Builders today. You choose the amount, the frequency, and you can cancel at any time.

— Jeanette Ageson, publisher

Join Tyee Builders

We're heading into a federal election, and journalism is under threat.

Global tech giants blocking Canadian news on their platforms. Political candidates purposely eroding trust in journalists. AI slop enabling a flourishing of misinformation online, with no accountability. Billionaire newspaper owners blatantly interfering with the editorial choices of their newsrooms.

To be a news publisher these days, committed to the slow, methodical work of talking to real people, verifying facts, is incredibly challenging. Not only are there bad actors that intentionally try to stymy good quality reporting, the business environment for journalism has been fundamentally disrupted, meaning that many of the institutions we used to rely on for high-quality journalism are struggling.

Against many odds, though, The Tyee is making it work, with the help of our readers. We've chosen a path that seems improbable -- we don't have a paywall, and we're very selective with our advertising partners that we work with. And we've been growing our team of professional journalists and increased our freelance budget. The only reason we can do this is because a small percentage of our readers chip in to our editorial budget through our Tyee Builders program.

This amazing group of readers means that The Tyee has persisted and published essential public-interest journalism for the past 21 years, and we have a good shot at being around for a long time in the future. But we can only maintain and grow our operations if readers continue to show up.

In this time of uncertainty, and with a federal election coming up, we need good journalism now more than ever. If you appreciate what you read on The Tyee and would like to help our independent, non-profit do more, please consider joining Tyee Builders today. You choose the amount, the frequency, and you can cancel at any time.

— Jeanette Ageson, publisher

Join Tyee Builders
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2020 Hindsight

2020 Hindsight
Illustration by Dorothy Woodend.

The Tyee’s Steve Burgess is looking back at the year 2020. To be clear, this is not intended as some form of Clockwork Orange-style classical conditioning exercise in which you are strapped into a chair with your eyelids pinned open. You are not legally required to participate. Since it is completely voluntary, the Geneva Convention does not apply. You are consenting to your own torture. But, you know, you might also get a few chuckles out of it.

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In This Series

2020 Hindsight: The Year in New Lexicon

2020 Hindsight: The Year in New Lexicon

We’re saying all kinds of silly things now. Steve Burgess takes stock.

Steve Burgess / 21 Dec 2020


2020 Hindsight: The Year in Lessons

2020 Hindsight: The Year in Lessons

The pandemic was like a nightmare substitute teacher. Steve Burgess takes stock.

Steve Burgess / 22 Dec 2020


2020 Hindsight: The Year in Things That Broke

2020 Hindsight: The Year in Things That Broke

Some stuff just doesn’t work anymore. Steve Burgess takes stock.

Steve Burgess / 23 Dec 2020


2020 Hindsight: The Year’s Newest Christmas Stories

2020 Hindsight: The Year’s Newest Christmas Stories

The pandemic has changed our familiar fables. Read along with Steve Burgess.

Steve Burgess / 24 Dec 2020


2020 Hindsight: Two New Christmas Carols for a Rough Year

2020 Hindsight: Two New Christmas Carols for a Rough Year

Sing along (from a distance) with Steve Burgess and The Tyee. And happy holidays.

Steve Burgess / 25 Dec 2020