Since publishing our first story in 2017, The Shoestring has been a community-powered independent news outlet. We rely on our community across western Mass to find overlooked stories and bring them to light, to share our findings and transform them into positive impact, and, yes, to help pay local journalists to report the news.
At The Shoestring, we don’t turn news into profits — we turn donations into news. Without those donations, we wouldn’t be able to do things like:
• Publish candidate profiles for Northampton’s preliminary election that were accessed 8,000 times for an election in which 6,300 people voted
• Mentor and publish over a dozen student journalists from the Five Colleges
• Sue the Northampton Police Department for records they refuse to release in defiance of the state Supervisor of Records
• Reveal a quiet attempt by the University of Massachusetts to bring felony charges against student protestors, which the university dropped following our reporting.
To make a tax-deductible donation by check, please make a check out to “Alternative Newsweekly Foundation for The Shoestring.” If your donation is under $500, please include a note if you would like a mailed or emailed receipt. Mail checks to:
Alternative Newsweekly Foundation
c/o Kevin Goldberg
253 Tennessee Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Please feel free to email us with any questions about donations at theshoestringmag@gmail.com.
Thank you so much for your support!
Though access to quality, in-depth media continues to decline across the United States, readers in western Mass have helped The Shoestring grow our budget every year. We believe that with your help, we can keep up that momentum and build back the news-producing capacity our region has lost.
The Shoestring will always keep our reporting free and accessible to all. By giving what you can, you’re securing quality local news for yourself and for members of your community who can’t afford to give anything. Thank you for giving generously, whatever that means to you.
