As the year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank all our readers, donors and subscribers for supporting our mission of providing local journalism that matters.
Reflecting on the past six months, I’m amazed at what we’ve accomplished in such a short time. Since June 3, when the TFP board hired me as the editor-in-chief, we’ve been busy moving into our office above the Blarney Irish Pub at 605 Monroe St. (a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated desks, chairs, tables, and even a fridge). We’ve hired staff, freelancers, and interns; built a website; secured funding to help keep us operational; and worked to spread the word that we’re up and running as a nonprofit, online-only local newsroom.
At this point, we only publish one story and cartoon a day, but that will hopefully increase as our staffing increases (my New Year’s resolution). We are also developing a podcast page, and will not only have our own podcast shows, but we’ll host other local podcasters, like Stage Door and Jaden Jefferson Reports.
By the way, I no longer call the TFP a newspaper—after all, we don’t publish hard copies anymore. It’s a tough habit to break, considering I’ve been in the print newspaper business since 1980. But times have changed. It’s now the 21st Century, and how we disseminate news has changed dramatically. We’re witnessing the fast disappearance of legacy newspapers in our own lifetime, something I never thought would ever happen. At least we’re saving trees …
Unfortunately, as newspapers fade, news deserts and ghost newspapers are on the rise. According an executive summary in a 2024 report of The State of Local News, more than 3,200 print newspapers have vanished since 2005. In 2023 alone, 130 newspapers ceased operations. Imagine the void left in communities without journalists reporting on local events; uncovering corruption; and holding public officials who make our policies accountable.
It’s our job as a nonprofit newsroom, which are thankfully increasing, to shed light on the truth and serve our community. Read the 2024 report … the details are alarming.
When I taught journalism and media communication at Owens, the University of Toledo, and Wayne State, I always surveyed students on the first day of class about their news habits. I was initially shocked that most of them had never read a newspaper. That’s right … never.
Those who did pay attention to news got it from social media, like X (formally known as Twitter and now owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who makes you pay for a blue checkmark rather than earn it); TikTok (which capitalizes on partisan algorithms, though its fate is nigh); Facebook (now capitalizing on paid boosts to share content); and podcasters, YouTube and online news sites, like Patch, Axios and Vox.
What hasn’t changed? The absolute necessity for journalism to remain fair, balanced, verifiable and reliable.
Starting a newsroom from scratch is no small task, and we expect growing pains for at least another year. Building a strong identity that resonates with the community takes time. I appreciate your patience as we work to fulfill our mission of telling your stories ethically and responsibly.
One of our biggest challenges is simply letting northwest Ohioans know we exist. How can we thoroughly cover Toledo without reader input and news tips? We don’t want to rely solely on press releases.
So, here’s my ask: If you like what we are doing, please share our content on social media, and continue supporting us as we grow.
I also ask that you keep us accountable, as well. Help us ensure that we’re meeting your expectations. If you see something—good or bad—please let us know. You can contact me at loriking@toledofreepress.com.
Before I close, I want to highlight three key tools on our website:
• The Donation Button: This button takes you to our Patreon, PayPal and First Amendment Society links. Your contributions help employ our journalists and keep the Toledo Free Press completely free. Donors also receive a weekly newsletter with updates on new hires, staff profiles, event announcements and more.
• The Subscription Button: Sign up for Kelly McGilvery’s weekly newsletter, which recaps published stories and behind-the-scenes insights.
• The Story Tip Line: Use this to let us know what’s happening in your neighborhoods.
The staff (Erin Holden, Kelly McGilvery and Stephen Zenner) and our board members thank you for supporting local journalism. Together, we can ensure that Toledo and northwest Ohio have the robust news coverage you deserve.
