Editorial & Opinion: We’re Still Here — Let’s Keep It That Way!
By • August 14, 2024 0 287
In case you have not heard, we are celebrating 70 years — seven decades — of this publication on October 7th, 2024. The Georgetowner is a proud survivor, a prime example of a form of journalism in grave danger: local journalism.
On the scene, our experienced and trustworthy, local reporting fills an important need. The Georgetowner continues to be the neighborhood’s essential source for providing news on ANC decisions, insight into local organizations like the Georgetown BID, CAG, GU, D.C. government, breaking business news on restaurants, retail and real estate and profiles of the most influential Georgetowners, past, present, and future. Regular reviews from great talented writers like Kitty Kelley. Editorials and contributions from our neighbors like Chip Reid and many others.
For at least the last decade, local news has seen a steep decline due to companies like Google and Facebook — both of which are known to spread misinformation and do not pay writers for content, only true news outfits pay reporters. Ad sales, which once accounted for about 80 percent of local papers’ revenue, have fallen by that amount. Most recently, the onset of AI has allowed more and more of the remaining publications, many owned by non-news organizations like financial institutions, to slash costs by laying off reporters and editors.
Four years ago, at the start of the pandemic, The Georgetowner launched its stakeholders’ campaign. Now, with many businesses on the road to recovery, we are asking you to consider becoming a stakeholder. There are so many opportunities to help. You can sponsor an intern, or a news story that is important to you, or our long-running Cultural Leadership Breakfast Series. This would help us tremendously to underwrite some of our printing and postage, and general overhead. You can even leave The Georgetowner a legacy gift. We are open to ideas and welcome your support and love of Georgetown.
Print is not dead, and neither are local newspapers. The truth is, we’re still here. We first want to thank those of you that have already helped us and encourage you to join in and help too. Use the link here to make your donation and help us continue to thrive.
