Over the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the future of the Independent, and local journalism in general.
I’ve been to three different journalism conferences. I’ve filled out at least a half-dozen grant/funding applications. The buzz word common throughout all of the conference programming and all of these funding initiatives is sustainability: How can local-news publishers set ourselves up for success—and put us in a position where we’re likely to still be around, and hopefully growing, five, 10 and 20 years down the line?
But thanks to our good ol’ print deadline, as the month came to a close, I was focused on content—the journalism that we do—and it’s been a fantastic reminder (not that I needed one) of why what we do is important, and why we need to find ways to make sure we can keep doing it.
In the current print edition, there are no big investigative pieces (though we do those on occasion), but there are numerous pieces that inform and tell the stories of our community—stories that, for the most part, may not be told otherwise (especially given the tenuous-at-best future of corporate-owned dailies).
In this one 40-page issue, you’ll find stories on a local animal sanctuary, and on an upcoming fundraiser to benefit cancer survivors. Our cover story looks at the local roller-skating community. We have news on restaurant openings and closings, and how the valley is dealing with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing local governments to ban homeless encampments. We share details on upcoming outdoor events, a three-weekend tour of artists’ studios, recommended beers to enjoy during Oktoberfest, and a popular annual series of concerts that raise funds benefiting people with autism. We profile a great local band that’s releasing a new EP with a strong message on oppression and culture. We offer extended Q&As with the candidates for city council seats in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. We even share news about a brilliant comet that will be visible in our nighttime skies.
I could keep going—there’s a lot more great stuff in the issue that I have not mentioned yet—but I think I’ve made my point.
Back to those discussions and initiatives about sustainability: They all focus on the fact that local news organizations need to find new and better ways to bring in more revenue. We’re working on that here at the Independent, of course, and one of the things we definitely need to do is convince more readers that what we do is worth paying for—even though we give all of our content away for free, both online and in print.
If you’re a reader who financially supports the Independent on a regular basis: Thank you. If you’re not, and you both 1) find value in what we do and 2) can afford to help us, I humbly ask you to do so. You can find details at CVIndependent.com/supporters—or you can simply mail us a check to us at 31855 Date Palm Drive #3-263, Cathedral City, CA 92224.
Whether you usually read us in print or online … thank you, as always, for reading.
Note: This is an edited version of the editor’s note that appeared in the October 2024 print edition. Much of this was originally published online in the Sept. 19 Indy Digest.
