JOSH MARSHALLThanks for taking the time to read today’s different kind of Backchannel.
Next week we kick off our fourth annual TPM Journalism Fund drive. I’m writing in advance because this year it’s particularly important to the future of the organization.
Have you noticed how a week doesn’t seem to go by without another online news outlet closing its doors? The TPM Journalism Fund has been the critical difference that’s saved us from that fate.
Last year I told you our unique brand of punch-above-our-weight investigative exclusives are even more necessary today than in the past. The success of last year’s drive allowed us to make key decisions that resulted in our big Meadows Texts exclusives from last December, our big early stories on George Santos and just recently our exclusive about an influential neo-Nazi working as a congressional staffer.
We want to do more of that, and we can.
What makes this year’s drive particularly critical is that we have a large number of one-time expenses coming due in a single year — the bulk of which are tied to important retrenchments we made early in the pandemic. Those were key strategic decisions that have put us on a firmer footing for the future. But the costs come due this year.
That’s why we’ve set an ambitious but necessary goal for this year’s drive. If we succeed it will get us through this year on a solid footing and keep us investing in breaking the important stories. We want to keep moving forward, not back. but we need your help to do that.
I’ve tried to keep this short and sweet. There it is. We launch on Monday. As a member you’ve already done your part. But if you are willing — and able — I hope you’ll consider supporting our team’s work during this month’s drive.
As always, I am happy — really, eager — to answer any questions you may have. Just hit reply and it comes right to me.
Josh
