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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

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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

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Please Support The Tyee's Two New Fellowship Funds

Your opportunity to create the best independent journalism in BC.

David Beers 6 Dec 2005TheTyee.ca

David Beers is the founding editor of The Tyee and serves as current editor-in-chief.

He started the publication in 2003 as an experiment in new ways of doing online journalism in the public interest, including solutions-focused reporting, crowd-funded support and a humane work culture. He loves what The Tyee has become thanks to amazing colleagues and readers.

He has lived in Vancouver since 1991. Before The Tyee he was a senior editor at Mother Jones Magazine and the Vancouver Sun, and his writing has appeared in many U.S. and Canadian outlets. He is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia's graduate school of journalism.
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The Tyee just reached our second birthday. We're celebrating by launching two new charitable funds to support the best independent journalism in British Columbia. And we're asking you to join the effort by giving a tax deductible contribution.

If you give now, your dollar doubles. That's because a generous donor has agreed to match the first $15,000 that Tyee readers give to support this exciting new initiative.

New! Local business jorg&olif has now joined the action, and is sponsoring a draw for a stylish, sensible and sexy Dutch citybike for one lucky donor. Everyone who donates before January 30th will be entered - even if you donated before today. The draw will be held on February 8th.

Our goal is "30 by 30" -- $30,000 by January 30th.

I hope you'll want to help us get there after I explain what the funds are all about: Why we created them. What they aim to accomplish. How we are assuring they are managed responsibly. And why your donation will make an important difference.

Two new funds, and why

The Tyee Investigative Fellowship Fund. And The Tyee Solutions Fellowship Fund. Their names tell you a lot. The investigative fund will provide resources for reporters wanting to research and document unfolding, possibly hidden problems facing BC. The solutions fund provides support for journalists seeking to report on and explain promising experiments that might lead to solving those problems.

The goal of each is to educate and engage citizens in thinking through our shared future.

We leave it to you to decide which approach appeals most to you by contributing to the fund of your choice.

And in making your donation, we invite you to tell us which issues most concern you. The environment? Poverty? Aboriginal rights? Multiculturalism? Workplace safety? The shifting economy? Please let us know.

Already, The Tyee has broken many important stories that may never have been published otherwise. But our resources pale compared to corporate media's. Serious journalism costs serious money. This is a way for you to give independent journalists from all over BC the support they need to file freedom of information requests, run up phone bills, and travel to where the stories are unfolding.

How will it work?

Here is how the funds will operate. Journalists will be invited to submit proposals for an Investigative or Solutions Fellowship to research and produce a series of articles. A blue ribbon, independent advisory board will select winning entrants. The resulting journalism will be published first on The Tyee, but will be available for publication elsewhere, the findings rippling out well beyond The Tyee's readership.

The advisory board, to operate at arm's length from Tyee editors, comprises UBC Journalism Professor Mary Lynn Young, Langara Journalism Professor Ross Howard and University of Toronto Professor of Journalism Minelle Mahtani. To read their impressive bios, click here [PDF 152 k].

The two funds are held at and managed by Tides Canada Foundation, a national public foundation. Guaranteed: Your tax deductible, charitable donation goes directly to supporting individual journalists.

And, as mentioned above, every dollar contributed to either fund up to a total of $15,000 before January 30th will be generously matched by the Endswell Fund at Tides Canada Foundation. Make a secure online credit card donation to the Investigative Fellowship here, and the Solution Fellowship here.

Building on success

In our first two years The Tyee has run over 1200 original articles, including many investigative and solutions oriented pieces taken up by the wider media. Clearly we have become a catalyst for wider public education. Our audience keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Last month alone, over 125,000 individuals visited The Tyee to read nearly 800,000 pages. We thank you for helping us become an independent media experiment gaining national and global attention.

I now invite you to help build on that success by funding the independent journalism that citizens deserve and need. Help us reach $30,000 by January 30th. And check The Tyee regularly to learn how close we're getting to our "30 by 30" goal.

A note to interested journalists. Once we see that donations to the funds are on track, we will post criteria for applying for a The Tyee Investigative Fellowship Fund and The Tyee Solutions Fellowship Fund. Check back in, or sign up to be alerted by email.

And a heartfelt thanks from me to everyone who supports The Tyee.

David Beers [Tyee]

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