Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
Tyee News
Media

We Asked for 2019 Builders by 2019. You Blew Us Away

Tyee supporters blast past the goal we sought. Way past.

David Beers 2 Jan 2019TheTyee.ca

David Beers is founding editor of The Tyee.

So here’s the scene. Jeanette Ageson (The Tyee’s publisher), Robyn Smith (editor in chief) and I are sitting around in early December having just asked each of the reporters what they want to accomplish in 2019. We were excited by their great ideas. Ambitious. Full of heart. Driven to make a difference. “Thrilling,” says Jeanette. “But, since it’s my business to worry about this stuff, it sounds like we are going to need a serious bump in money to make these dreams come true.”

We decided to ask you, The Tyee’s readers, to help beef up our bottom line.

(What am I doing in the room, by the way? I am back full time helping to edit and loving it.)

We looked at the amount of people who are monthly Builders — monthly financial supporters to The Tyee. The number was an already impressive 1787. I turned some figures over in my head. If we could convince 232 more of our readers to become Builders, we’d have 2019 to start 2019. “What do you think?” I asked Jeanette.

“It would be amazing. It’s a lot to ask, but it would solve a lot of issues,” she said.

Fast forward. Here we are on Jan. 2, three weeks since Jeanette and Robyn launched the 2019 by 2019 campaign. Did we make it? Did we ever.

As I type this at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Day, not 232 but 342 new Builders have signed up for monthly contributions ranging from $3 to $100 per month.

These Builders are the heroes of The Tyee, because they contribute to create more and better journalism even though we insist on not erecting a paywall. The Builders give so that everyone can read The Tyee without any barrier to entry.

What can we say? We are grateful. We are humbled. We are excited to be proving that locally based, independent journalism can earn loyalty — and financial support — from citizens who recognize value in what we do. In return, we are determined to deliver what we have promised. Thanks to you, we will empower our committed journalists to achieve their goals. In these pages, those in power will be held accountable. Those pushed to the margins will speak. Those at risk will find allies.

We’ve operated this way for 15 years, breaking investigations, sharing solutions, telling stories of B.C. and beyond that point the way to a better world.

Thank you, Tyee Builders, old and new, for making this possible.  [Tyee]

Read more: Media

  • 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

Do You Think Trudeau Will Survive the Next Election?

Take this week's poll