The Ledger-Enquirer isn’t going anywhere — and you can help ensure it stays that way
Our staff has been working harder than ever these last six weeks to tell the story of coronavirus in the Chattahoochee Valley.
As it swept across the world, coronavirus has taken jobs, lives, safety, health and more from communities. And we’re here to document it all.
We’re here to keep elected officials accountable as they issue orders and release data. We tell stories about the bus drivers and cafeteria workers that choose to put their own safety at risk to keep students fed. We talk with small business owners about the unique struggles they face, and report resources to help those that are out of work.
Our reporters are men and women just like you, living, working and growing in Columbus. Our staff is eager to tell these important stories but we’re all stressed, tired and ready to see a light at the end of the tunnel — just like you.
And we’re not going anywhere.
We’ve published hundreds of stories over the past month about this pandemic and its effects in the Chattahoochee Valley. Our content is reaching more readers than ever.
There’s the data-driven accountability story produced by reporter Nick Wooten that took a hard look at whether or not current data supports Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to start reopening Georgia. And a breakdown from Allie Dean about how much money the city, and some of its local businesses, may lose because of the pandemic.
Visual journalist Mike Haskey is out in the community searching for powerful stories like a Columbus couple reunited by a “Parade of Love” or a MercyMed farmer delivering fresh, free produce via bicycle to food insecure families.
And Tim Chitwood wrote a longform feature out of East Alabama reflecting the concern business owners, law enforcement and medical professionals have about becoming another “hot spot.”
This is the kind of local journalism you won’t find anywhere else in the region. Think of the stories we could report with even more support from readers.
Newsrooms around the country have announced layoffs, furloughs, reduced print days and pay cuts. The Ledger-Enquirer is fortunate that these harms have not touched our staff, but that won’t remain true without financial help from our community.
If you want to support our cause and the journalists in our newsroom, we have multiple options:
A subscription is always a great place to start. We have print and digital options for readers so you can get content the way you like it. Our most updated offers can be found by visiting ledger-enquirer.com/subscribe. We also offer a 99-cent day pass that allows readers to take in as much content as they want for 24 hours.
We’re also launching a new fundraising campaign with help from the Local Media Foundation. Through a platform called Give Butter, readers can make a tax-deductible donation to a fund that will go directly to our newsroom. That information is at givebutter.com/ledger-enquirer.
Your gift will support the journalists working right here in Columbus — not a corporate bottom line.
Those who would like to donate via check can mail their gift to: COVID-19 Local News Fund c/o Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 450, Lake City, MI 49651. In order for your gift to be tax deductible, the check must be made out to Local Media Foundation. In the memo line, please write “The Ledger-Enquirer.”
If you’re not in a position to give right now, you can still support local journalism by following us on social media and sharing story links with friends or families.
We want to keep local journalism here for as long as possible and bring quality content that our community deserves. We’re always open to hearing your ideas and feedback to help our progress. Send me an email at lgorla@ledger-enquirer.com with your thoughts.
It is a crucial time for local journalism and we’re asking you to please consider helping in any way you can. A handful of donors have already contributed on Give Butter since we launched Thursday and we could not be more thankful for their support.
We know this pandemic will affect our lives in the months (and possibly years) ahead. Help us sustain the strong local journalism needed to tell those stories.
Lauren Gorla is senior editor of the Ledger-Enquirer.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 8:44 AM.
