The JOLT - The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater: 2022 End-of-year Fundraising Campaign
$41,095.57
Raised
900
Donations
$30,000
Goal
The JOLT is your community-owned nonprofit news organization.
The JOLT began publishing in May 2020 to bring more local news coverage back to Thurston County. We do this every day through stories like:
• “Endangered frogs no match for planned dynamite blast next Wednesday,” which helped prevent the explosion from occurring last month.
• “Proposed Regional Fire Authority considers various formulas for a ‘Fire Benefit Charge’” – one of 16 stories we’ve published through October 24 that cover the potential merger and separation of Tumwater’s and Olympia’s fire departments.
• “A mega airport in Thurston County?” – this reader-submitted piece stimulated ongoing news stories about Washington state eyeing a swath of the county for a new airport. We continue to monitor this unpopular possibility.
You can find more than 3,000 local news and feature stories we’ve published, all of which are both searchable and available at no charge on our website: www.theJOLTnews.com
(And if you’re not already receiving The Daily JOLT, our weekday newsletter that shows you the day’s local headlines, you’re invited to subscribe – for FREE! Just go to the form at www.theJOLT.news)
This is reporting you won’t find anywhere else (certainly not in the national news!) because it covers the issues that most impact your day-to-day life — local government activity, school board meetings, building development, etc.
In addition to covering the hard news, we also feature local columnists who write about gardening, local birds, local nonprofit organizations, life here as a senior citizen, health and personal growth. Plus, an increasing number of reader letters, local high school sports pictorials, full-length obituaries (which we publish at no charge) and more.
And our Community Calendar offers all kinds of local and online events, more than 200 per month, lately.
Why is local news important?
Local news, different from national media, supports local democracy. It helps keep public officials accountable. It stimulates more talented people to run for public office. Across the country, opinion polls say that it’s better trusted than national news. We provide information that helps to create a shared public understanding of local issues.
Why can’t we pay for all of this from advertising revenues?
While ad revenues are important to The JOLT, at this stage, we can expect to earn only a third of our revenues by advertising for local businesses, organizations and events.
The news ecosystem across America is broken. As much as 80 percent of ad revenues that used to flow to newspapers have moved online – primarily to social media and classified ad sites. Some 2,500 print newspapers across the country have shut down since 2005. Some 1,800 served communities that no longer have a daily or weekly news service. The old business model for local news is never coming back.
In response to these trends, some 700 local independent online news organizations have formed around the United States. Of these, approximately 140 are nonprofit news media, including The JOLT News Organization.
As a nonprofit, we depend on the support of local community members like you to keep this critical work going.
For a small, still-new independent news organization like us, your contribution would be a big deal. It will help us deliver the kind of in-depth journalism you’ve come to expect, every day. It’s the kind of reporting that can make a real difference in our community. And it’s worthy of your support. Thank you!
You are helping to support continued writing and FREE distribution of our own local news here -- stories that help all Thurston County residents know what's happening in our local governments, schools and businesses as well as inspiring stories of local people doing great things.
Donor Wall42
Brooke K Wickham
Nancy | $187.71
Judy Bardin | $104.42
Thank you JOLT for covering so many City meetings
SUSAN | $156.07
Matthew Ferrel | $7/M
mary
Jalene Smith | $16.92/M
Melodi Cottongim | $104.15
I appreciate your continued reporting and columnists. What a great resource for staying informed of local news. Thank you!
Carolyn Byerly | $100
It's wonderful to have an alternative newspaper in this community.
Todd | $52.23
David Gordon
Graeme Sackrison
Paula Moore | $248.99
Appreciate you keeping me informed of the happenings, discussions, and discussions of public meetings. Thank you!
Steve Klein | $104.15
Dwight | $104.15
Greg | $52.23
Denise
Jean Wright | $104.15
Lynn | $37.69
Tom | $311.84
THURSTON COUNTY NEED A NEWSOURCE---- JOLT is the ONLY option!!!!
Anne Roberts | $25
Paul
JOLT News plays such a vital role in our rapidly evolving world of information. Supporting local news is supporting our democracy!
Irene
Dana | $50.16
Sarah Morris | $50.16
Thank you for your important contribution to our community. It is refreshing to have a true local news publication!
Catherine Foster | $26.27
Local reporting is so valuable!
John Saunders | $104.15
Henrietta Moore | $104.15
Catherine Foster | $26.27
Graeme Sackrison | $104.15