As a nonprofit, The Local Reporter is dependent on the generosity of our readers. We have no stockholders nor commercial interests. That’s why we’re reaching out to you now.

The Local Reporter can be the community newspaper you want and deserve — but only if it receives support from those interested in what a relentlessly local news source can provide for Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

We’ve already shown what we can do. Thanks to your support, in just a few months and even with a predominantly volunteer staff, The Local Reporter has published important stories, including on the impact of high-density projects in Chapel Hill, vandalism in a Chapel Hill cemetery and a wide range of stories about the coronavirus impact on our area.

We also have published many guest columns, on subjects including the pandemic, homelessness and the criminal justice system. As funding increases, we have added locally-focused regular columns on gardening, wildlife and vegetarianism, the kinds of features and voices that have disappeared from regional newspapers during this era of consolidation.

But there’s much more we can do. Our free-access website (http://thelocalreporter.press) is a prototype of what we hope a full-fledged news platform can be. It is updated frequently, plus we send out a weekly email newsletter. Ultimately, we hope to publish a print edition.

With your help, we can offer more of what good community journalism can do, including:

• rigorous reporting on local issues, government, law enforcement, development, business and the schools;
• features and lifecycle coverage reflecting the community’s rich mosaic of life;
• a civil forum for public debate, through a robust offering of guest columns and letters to the editor, airing the views of our diverse readership.

But none of this will happen unless TLR is supported by the community we serve.

TLR is fortunate to have thousands of readers, and some have stepped up and donated generously and others have become monthly sustainers.

But if you believe in our goal, we need you to join them and donate now so we can hire professional reporters and editors, expand coverage and provide you with a true community newspaper.

Please help TLR move on to the next step. Share our appeal with friends and neighbors.

Thank you.

Friends of Local Journalism, publisher of The Local Reporter