I’m just over a month into my gig as your Central District News Editor-in-Chief, and I’m already seeing how important this site is to the community. So many of you make us your go-to spot to get timely and accurate updates on local happenings, from accidents that delay traffic to new building construction to lost pets.
As this community continues to grow and change, Central District News must grow and change with it. We know we must build on the foundation we’ve laid in the community, expanding with increased coverage of the issues that affect your life in this neighborhood. We’ve served you well in the past and we want to work even harder to bring you the news.
Subscribe to Central District News Today — $5/$10/$20 per month to support CD community news
Right now, the site is supported by advertisers made up of community businesses around Central Seattle in conjunction with our sister site CapitolHillSeattle.com. In order to grow in effort and independence, we’re asking for your help.
While we’re not interested in restricting access via paywall systems, we do hope that you will consider contributing a small amount to keep the site going strong. We’re hoping to gather 100 subscribers (at levels of $5, $10, or $20 each month) by the end of September. We’ll keep CDN going even if we don’t make the goal — but our plans to continue the coverage you’ve come to depend on and grow it will have to be adjusted.
We hope that if you enjoy CDN and will consider becoming part of the subscriber roster. These contributions will help give us the resources to expand with more articles and deeper coverage of the issues that matter most to you.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we continue to grow community news coverage of the Central District. Oh, and click here to subscribe or fill out the form, below.
(Any information we collect when you subscribe will be kept confidential and used only to contact subscribers to thank them and keep them aware of any news related to the subscriber program.)
Step 1:
Fill out this form so we have record of your subscription.
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Choose a subscription level that fits your budget and complete payment via Paypal.
Megan- Does CD news have any alternatives mechanism in place to the subscription model? Is CD news eligible to accept charitable contributions? I don’t mean to haggle- that’s just what us NPR-listeners are accustomed to. -Thanks
Ryan, I think you are asking if Cd News can be a 501-c3 non profit.
Ryan, we are not a nonprofit so I am afraid contributions are not tax deductible.
Thanks.
I like the site. If there is a lot/increasing traffic, I would assume ad revenue would increase. Before signing up, I suggest to disclose in detail on the expenses and existing income and what you are planning to do with the subscription income.
Further, I am unsure what you mean by ‘grow independence’ from advertisers? Are they currently influencing content? I can’t thinke of a more independent news source than a blog driven by volunteers.
People may be more likely to contribute if there were an option of a one-time contribution on the drop-down list.
Thanks for the suggestion. I can’t speak for Megan, but I can explain my thoughts on subscription vs one-time contributions. CDNews never (well, rarely) sleeps. It has covered neighborhood news consistently and will keep doing so. One-time contributions and things like Kickstarter campaigns, etc are a great way to start a new project and get it to the starting line. But what CDNews needs is a higher base level for operating funds each month. Your $5 raises and stabilizes the funding floor and makes it that much more possible for coverage to continue and grow over time.
Thanks, Tom, my thoughts exactly. To keep CD News as vibrant and informative as it has been in the past, and to improve on our existing model, we feel recurring contributions are the best way to go. That’s the most sustainable model in our opinion. We do appreciate the thoughts!
I am always amazed at how Seattle residents don’t seem to understand what a business is and how it works. This is truly a socialist mindset in which the people are barely aware of the workings of capital. Most people assume that my work is somehow volunteer or publicly funded as well. I am often thanked for my good deeds. Which pissed me off. I work hard at running a business and people just don’t get it.
I am considering a subscription but am wondering if that changes your relationship with Capitol Hill Blog. I can see that it is business, but would contributions mean less ads? I suppose that these questions come up due to the fact that I am not sure that this is an option for other neighborhood blogs and news sites.
I’d really like to contribute but would rather make a one time annual gift. Can you add those options. 1y for 60, 120, or 240.
I’m looking into this from technical standpoint. Might just turn to USPS :)
I plan on subscribing, I’m happy to pay for the content here. But I would really like to lock in for a 1-year subscription rather than watch for the monthly debit (for those of us who don’t have much of a cash cushion in our checking accounts).
I strongly support the ask for contributions!