Why the FDL Writers Foundation Is Important, In Your Own Words
As Jane noted last week, FDL’s Book Salon is one of the most popular, valuable components of this blog because of the ways in which it benefits authors and readers alike.
In order to continue expanding upon these benefits, we recently announced the launch of the FDL Writers Foundation: a brand new non-profit designed to take Book Salon’s contributions to journalism to the next level by promoting the work of independent writers whose ideas deserve to be heard.
Last week, we asked you to donate what you could to help kickstart this new endeavor and support a new generation of innovative journalists, and, as always, your response was incredible. Within the first week, the non-profit has raised over $20,000 in donations from our readers – a great deal of whom rose to the occasion and donated $100 or more amidst a busy holiday season and a disastrous economy.
When we asked people why they donated to the FDL Writers Foundation, the responses seemed to consistently touch on two themes:
1. Our news media is broken and we need to do all we can to promote fearless, uncompromising investigative journalism.
2. FDL is your source for in-depth coverage of the issues you care about, and you’re committed to growing our brand of independent journalism.
Not only is that not surprising, but that’s exactly what we had hoped to hear from all of you.
Below are some of the well-wishes we received at the launch of the FDL Writers Foundation, and some of the reasons why many of you donated.
To support independent thinking and skeptical journalism
We need creative minds who do not shy away from investigating deeply to uncover threats to our democratic way of life.
Because you are not mainstream media. (I mean that as a sincere compliment!) This country is in dire need of viewpoints that don’t echo corporate media.
Patriotism. FDL digs deep for truth and is a growing counterweight to corporate media’s superficial approach to informing (and often corporate media’s misinforming) citizens about our government’s actions.
I am very grateful to FiredogLake for the coverage provided – and I believe that a strong independent press and desemination of alternative information is crucial and essential to our democracy.
I think that supporting serious and honest writers on the crises our country and society are confronting is essential in the face of mass dissemination of misinformation and growing public ignorance. I also admire Jane Hamsher for her uncompromising commitment to real progressive reform and appreciate the clear-headed arguments she makes in the media (when given a chance). I see this as an excellent extension of her mission.
I read FDL every day for coverage of what’s really happening in the US and abroad. I applaud Jane for starting the site. The FDL Writers Foundation is a natural extension of its’ parent FDL.
Alternative media like FDL is our best hope for making the voting public in the US aware of what is really going on, and that has to happen before effective grassroots countermeasures bypassing the corrupted political parties can start to take place.
Although I rarely comment here at FDL, the site has become increasingly important to me over the past few years as a source of information and “citizen journalism” in its best form, and if that’s not something worthy of support, I don’t know what would be. Helping FDL to continue on this mission by assisting good and dedicated writers is the very least I can do.
We couldn’t have been more grateful to have so many people give so generously in support of independent journalism. Thank you for supporting the FDL Writers Foundation.
Why the FDL Writers Foundation is Important, In Your Own Words
As Jane noted last week, FDL’s Book Salon is one of the most popular, valuable components of this blog because of the ways in which it benefits authors and readers alike.
In order to continue expanding upon these benefits, we recently announced the launch of the FDL Writers Foundation: a brand new non-profit designed to take Book Salon’s contributions to journalism to the next level by promoting the work of independent writers whose ideas deserve to be heard.
Last week, we asked you to donate what you could to help kickstart this new endeavor and support a new generation of innovative journalists, and, as always, your response was incredible. Within the first week, the non-profit has raised over $20,000 in donations from our readers – a great deal of whom rose to the occasion and donated $100 or more amidst a busy holiday season and a disastrous economy.
When we asked people why they donated to the FDL Writers Foundation, the responses seemed to consistently touch on two themes:
1. Our news media is broken and we need to do all we can to promote fearless, uncompromising investigative journalism.
2. FDL is your source for in-depth coverage of the issues you care about, and you’re committed to growing our brand of independent journalism.
Not only is that not surprising, but that’s exactly what we had hoped to hear from all of you.
Below are some of the well-wishes we received at the launch of the FDL Writers Foundation, and some of the reasons why many of you donated.
To support independent thinking and skeptical journalism
We need creative minds who do not shy away from investigating deeply to uncover threats to our democratic way of life.
Because you are not mainstream media. (I mean that as a sincere compliment!) This country is in dire need of viewpoints that don’t echo corporate media.
Patriotism. FDL digs deep for truth and is a growing counterweight to corporate media’s superficial approach to informing (and often corporate media’s misinforming) citizens about our government’s actions.
I am very grateful to FiredogLake for the coverage provided – and I believe that a strong independent press and desemination of alternative information is crucial and essential to our democracy.
I think that supporting serious and honest writers on the crises our country and society are confronting is essential in the face of mass dissemination of misinformation and growing public ignorance. I also admire Jane Hamsher for her uncompromising commitment to real progressive reform and appreciate the clear-headed arguments she makes in the media (when given a chance). I see this as an excellent extension of her mission.
I read FDL every day for coverage of what’s really happening in the US and abroad. I applaud Jane for starting the site. The FDL Writers Foundation is a natural extension of its’ parent FDL.
Alternative media like FDL is our best hope for making the voting public in the US aware of what is really going on, and that has to happen before effective grassroots countermeasures bypassing the corrupted political parties can start to take place.
Although I rarely comment here at FDL, the site has become increasingly important to me over the past few years as a source of information and “citizen journalism” in its best form, and if that’s not something worthy of support, I don’t know what would be. Helping FDL to continue on this mission by assisting good and dedicated writers is the very least I can do.
We couldn’t have been more grateful to have so many people give so generously in support of independent journalism. Thank you for supporting the FDL Writers Foundation.
