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Chris Trottier

🚀 PLEASE BOOST 🚀

@TexasObserver is not dead yet! You can save them!

They have set up a GoFundMe page to raise $100,000 and they’re halfway there!

If the goal is reached, staff keep their jobs—and a truly innovative publication lives another day!

Not only does @TexasObserver write compelling stories, they are a true Fediverse innovator who run their own Mastodon server!

Open your hearts and your wallets! Please donate now!

gofundme.com/f/laid-off-texas-

28 Mar 2023 at 1:11 | Open on mastodon.social
25 comments
James M.

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver yes! Doesn't hurt to mention in your comment that you heard about it on Mastodon, if true.

28 Mar 2023 at 1:44 | Open on sfba.social
Texas Observer

@atomicpoet we hope so. We have asked the board to give us time to find more major donors, and the 100k would go a long way in making the case by covering a lot or all of payroll while we mobilize those efforts, and buy staff a little more time in general. If the board still says no, the money will go directly to the laid off staff. Just wanted to add a little more detail to the thread. Thanks so much for the support!

28 Mar 2023 at 1:52 | Open on texasobserver.social
Chris Trottier

@TexasObserver Putting this out there as well. @reiver and I are exploring ways to integrate crowdfunding directly into the Fediverse. We hope this could help organizations like yours build an active donor base.

Of course, this is preliminary—I hope you live another day.

28 Mar 2023 at 1:56 | Open on mastodon.social
Tim Chambers
toxtethogrady

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver This will have to be done to the tune of $2 million a year for the rest of their existence. It should be possible for them to have more than 4,000 subscribers...

28 Mar 2023 at 2:07 | Open on universeodon.com
ideaPDish

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver

If I had a nickel for everytime someone asked me for money, it would be ironic. (because nickels aren't made from nickel anymore)

28 Mar 2023 at 2:58 | Open on universeodon.com
DELETED

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver

Glad to hear about this! I'm spreading the word.

28 Mar 2023 at 3:19 | Open on dice.camp
Chris Trottier

UPDATE:

@TexasObserver has reached $100K in donations from 1.3K donors.

They’ve now created a stretch goal of $200K and hope that this will convince the board to continue operating the publication.

I’m convinced that the Fediverse has given @TexasObserver a chance at life.

28 Mar 2023 at 3:20 | Open on mastodon.social
Tim Chambers
Beth

@tchambers @atomicpoet @TexasObserver

$113K right now. This is really amazing.

The Texas Observer has done an amazing job building a community here. I am so glad that the community has responded. 💙

Whatever their future may be, I hope other organizations see the value in joining us here.

28 Mar 2023 at 4:12 | Open on sfba.social
Beth

@tchambers @atomicpoet @TexasObserver

$118K.

I hope the Board gives them a chance. Texas Observer has the opportunity to prove that when an organization looks beyond the birdsite, readership and support can grow.

28 Mar 2023 at 4:52 | Open on sfba.social
Beth

@tchambers @atomicpoet @TexasObserver

And another $2K for $120K.

Thank you both for posting about the magazine and boosting posts. You guys are champions of Mastodon, and I appreciate it.

28 Mar 2023 at 4:56 | Open on sfba.social
Chris Trottier

It’s been 24 hours since @TexasObserver’s GoFundMe has been up, and it’s reached $140,000 of its $200,000 goal, which is already a stretch from its original $100,000.

I hope this convinces their board to continue their work.

But even if it doesn’t, what this should tell every journalist is that, not only does the Fediverse value journalism, crowdfunding through the Fediverse is a viable way to support journalist initiatives.

This is a path forward.

28 Mar 2023 at 12:37 | Open on mastodon.social
Chris Trottier

I’m happy to say that @TexasObserver reached $200,000 on their GoFundMe!

Journalists around the world, are you seeing this?

28 Mar 2023 at 21:13 | Open on mastodon.social
GhostOnTheHalfShell

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver I wonder if it's possible to run PBS style recurring fund raising like this. Wiki and some others manage to have drives, although they have a lot of other backing as well.

papers used to sustain themselves on local ads. it does seem strange that model somehow become unviable. digital print should have made it easier.

28 Mar 2023 at 21:36 | Open on masto.ai
Colopen
System IV, Building K

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver Thanks, Chris, I donated. Not sure I would have seen this opportunity but for your post. Forward!

28 Mar 2023 at 3:27 | Open on mastodon.social
@pineywoozle (s) for HARRIS
AnthropoceneMan

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver

I have just donated a bit in the memory of how Molly Ivins got me through the Bush2 years.

Thank you Texas Observer and Molly Ivins.

Please help them stay alive by donating at
gofund.me/0e53f240

If Texas loses this voice of reason, there will be but one voice left. Texas stands to lose too much I’d the Texas Observer is lost. Leverage your reason to help keep #journalism alive.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Iv

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver

I have just donated a bit in the memory of how Molly Ivins got me through the Bush2 years.

Thank you Texas Observer and Molly Ivins.

Please help them stay alive by donating at
gofund.me/0e53f240

If Texas loses this voice of reason, there will be but one voice left. Texas stands to lose too much I’d the Texas Observer is lost. Leverage your reason to help keep #journalism alive.

28 Mar 2023 at 11:00 | Open on universeodon.com
Lipk

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver I didn't know the Texas Observer (I'm Dutch) but I've just read some articles and imho this is a very important news outlet, especially in Texas. So I donated, I hope they'll reach their goal!

28 Mar 2023 at 11:02 | Open on masto.ai
TBYG

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver Just donated. They blew past the hundred thousand overnight and raised it to $200,000.

28 Mar 2023 at 12:07 | Open on mastodon.sdf.org
Simon Campbell

@atomicpoet @TexasObserver Great news about the fundraising. Congratulations. We need to cherish independent journalism. Along with music, it’s one of the only forces we have to keep the darkness away.

31 Mar 2023 at 0:22 | Open on toot.supertonerecords.com
Grumpy Gramp
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