Whatcom County, thank you for your support of local news
The generosity of this community is overwhelming. You put our Give Butter campaign $20,000 over our goal.
On April 22 we asked for your help to raise $27,000 to ensure The Bellingham Herald could effectively cover the new coronavirus and its economic fallout in Whatcom County.
We closed the online page $10 shy of $30,000. Very generous checks, including $10,000 from the Whatcom Community Foundation, added to the total.
Your gifts have helped us continue to hold governments accountable, keep after agencies to release numbers so you understand what’s happening and provide timely updates on issues about daily life in the time of coronavirus.
Still, newspaper revenues continue to decline as traditional advertisers struggle with coronavirus troubles. Macy’s could lose more than $1 billion and see sales fall at least 45% after the coronavirus pandemic and J.C. Penney has entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Associated Press reports. Dave Gallagher wrote last week that Pier 1 has asked the bankruptcy court to liquidate its stores. The hits keep coming, and they are body blows to our industry.
We are so grateful that you know local news matters. You helped us bridge our budget gap in April and May.
With help from the Local Media Foundation, your tax-deductible gifts went directly to the newsroom. And, critically, the encouragement you left on the campaign at givebutter.com/bellinghamherald heartened us in these tough times.
Here is a sampling of what you wrote:
“The free press is vitally important. Thanks for keeping us informed about what’s happening in our local community, especially about the COVID-19 outbreak.”
“The Bellingham Herald is very important to me for local news, and especially now during the pandemic. It is my main source for staying safe and informed at this uncertain time.”
“A city without a newspaper is like a city without a brain. We need good investigative reporting, and during this COVID time we HAVE to have a trusted source for news. Praying for your survival....”
We’re so grateful for your sustaining gifts, particularly as we know we’re not alone in financial struggles. I sincerely thank you for your support that allows us to continue to provide coverage such as:
▪ When stores and restaurants return to “normal,” and what that might look like.
▪ Who is and isn’t wearing masks (and who to complain to if you feel somebody should be).
▪ Where clusters have broken out, including Lummi nation and among healthcare workers.
▪ Why Canada isn’t moving to open the border and what that means to our economy.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can support our local reporting by becoming one at bellinghamherald.com/subscribe. If you’re already a subscriber, please suggest to friends and neighbors that they join you and subscribe.
