A Major Blow to Independent Journalism

There is an increasing hostility toward the practice of critical journalism. All donations are tax-deductible and go directly to our modest budget.  [Click here to donate.]( [Click here to donate.]( (Truthout is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 20-0031641) It came out of the blue early one afternoon: a sudden and cruel blow to local media carried out by a power-mad billionaire. News networks Gothamist and DNAInfo, along with their local affiliates from DC to Chicago to LA, were shut down by their owner, Trump donor Joe Ricketts. With no notice and apparently no regard for their years of hard work, over 100 journalists found themselves unemployed and, in the short term, unable to even access their own work as their stories disappeared from the web. Ricketts justified this as an economically necessary decision -- but it's impossible not to believe the real reason was the New York newsrooms' vote to unionize. These closures are part of a broader environment which has become deeply hostile to the practice of critical journalism. Another wealthy Trump donor successfully funded a lawsuit to bankrupt Gawker. Trump’s Department of Justice has charged journalists with felonies for covering protests at his inauguration. Meanwhile, some Trump opponents risk falling into the trap of encouraging the suppression or dismissal of independent news outlets, in their desire to find a foolproof way to guard against "fake news" or alleged foreign propaganda. Amid this maelstrom, and a still-ongoing trend of media cutbacks and downsizing, Truthout stands firm. Our independence remains uncompromised; we're not owned by billionaires or part of a larger conglomerate. We are committed to holding the powerful to account and ensuring that the truth is brought to light. But we can only do this because of our readers. Your generous support makes it possible for us to take risks in what we publish, without fear of having the plug pulled by a vindictive owner. Will you help ensure that our work can continue? [Click here to make a donation in support of truly independent journalism.]( Yours, Joe Macaré, Head of Publishing Make your gift go even further! [Become a monthly sustainer]( and we'll add a full year of your donation amount to our fundraiser. You'll only be charged once a month and can cancel anytime! [Support Truthout with a tax-deductible donation]( Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047  [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy](   [The Newspaper Guild]