Texas Observer
WE DID IT! The Texas Observer will remain open!
Our board just voted to rescind both the layoffs and the closure. We'll have more news soon, but we believe this is the start of a very positive transformation at our publication—and you were a huge part of it. THANK YOU! You proved to the world that #TexasNeedsAnObserver!
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-observer-no-layoffs-remains-open-board-vote/
Texas Observer
@ShekinahCanCook thank you, we are honored by the gift we've received and we have many great advisors working with us now to help us make this last. Thank you so much!
Kitchen Priestess (she/her)
@TexasObserver As a nonprofit admin, let me remind you that have essentially received a grant. Grants don't last forever and they don't generally repeat. The purpose of the grant is to enable you to get your ducks in a row so the program is sustainable *without more grants.* Expecting perpetual grants is a not a viable funding model. You will have to develop a regular revemue model that can roll forward reliably. You got a brief reprieve. Use it wisely!
Swagpuss McG
@TexasObserver
Congratulations, now can you please start reporting the REAL Texas again? Start with a Uvalde retrospective to demonstrate "The news cycle moves on, but Texas stands still til justice is meted out to those families, and every family of a preventable school shooting."
Texas Observer
@swagpussc We understand and haven't moved on and don't plan to do so. @gusbova just won a Texas Institute of Letters award for this piece, published in August, about the civil rights history of Uvalde past and present. Gus has continued to report on developments ever since and we'll continue to cover. Long term coverage like this is so important to us, too. Thank you for your message! https://www.texasobserver.org/uvalde-guns-protest-walkout/
McNadoMD
@TexasObserver now get them to get the subscription part of the website working again!!! Tried to subscribe yesterday but it wouldn’t load ?.
Very glad to hear that y’all are staying open.
Texas Observer
@mcnado yes absolutely something we'll be bringing up as we discuss next steps.
Shannon DeMaria
@TexasObserver I threw my arms up and yelled 'Yes!' at my computer when I got the last gofundme update. Now, off to subscribe as a yearly supporter.
Texas Observer
@mpjgregoire No exact figures at this moment but lots of people mentioned it in their donations. We stand by all the nice things @jamescanup said about the fediverse here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/29/texas-observer-closing-gofundme
mpjgregoire
@TexasObserver Great news! Congratulations!
Out of curiosity, to what degree do you think you can attribute this success to the Fediverse?
Ben Werdmuller
@TexasObserver How can we (the community around you, and also, non-profit newsrooms like The 19th) help you continue to transform and find sustainability?
Texas Observer
@ben bookmarking this to reply to later, thank you Ben
Texas Observer
This is JUST the first step in saving the Texas Observer. We have enough money to keep our doors open, pay writers and the bills, but we'll need more help to make our publication sustainable. We'll have more information soon (in the meantime, the GoFundMe is still open and growing ... https://www.gofundme.com/f/laid-off-texas-observer-journalists-and-staff) on different ways to help.
In the meantime, come to our party on Friday! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texas-observer-final-friday-tickets-601759337377
#TexasNeedsAnObserver—We'll have a big #Newstodon Friday party too!
Texas Observer
Understandably, folks want an update on our Board of Directors and other updates on our future. We do hope to have more good news soon. In the meantime, we'd direct you to this statement from the current board for a sense of the tone of their apology. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23732385-tdf-statement-3_29_23-1
They do understand that #TexasNeedsAnObserver!
jamescanup
@TexasObserver I'm crying. I'm so relieved.
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