Dear readers,
This September I read an outstanding story Colorado Independent editor Susan Greene wrote about the making of Colorado’s first-ever statewide water plan. No other news media in the state had written this kind of analysis, and it made such a strong impression that I called Susan.
During our call, I realized that rather than giving time and money just to the nonprofits working on the issues I care about, I should support nonprofit journalism and its efforts covering those issues in-depth. So I donated to The Independent and, more importantly, based on Susan’s and her team’s talents and dedication, joined its board of directors.
Pre-Internet, this would never have been the case. But, with the demise of The Rocky Mountain News and the hollowing of The Denver Post, working to keep news coverage independent and robust is the most important thing I can do right now to help fix our state’s myriad problems.
We need a healthy and thriving Fourth Estate informing us of the issues that riddle our society and our environment. We need experienced professional journalists — the kind so many traditional outlets let go — to lead the rebirth of reporting with integrity in Colorado. Neither community bloggers nor corporate bankrolled media will do this.
The Colorado Independent depends on support from people like you and me, folks willing to devote our time, energy and money building this fledgling news outlet. So join me in making a contribution to The Independent today. The fate of journalism and Colorado is in our hands. We need to make sure that this news source doesn’t disappear like so many before it.
Brad Udall
Colorado Independent board treasurer
