David Steward
Help set journalism free
Fundraising for The OpenTrust
Story
Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.' - George Orwell
openDemocracy recently broke a story which casts a shadow over our democracy. Peter Oborne’s allegations that Britain’s Daily Telegraph has suppressed embarrassing stories about big corporations like HSBC in order to protect advertising revenues cannot be dismissed – and we now know this isn't an isolated example.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. As we have stopped paying for news, papers have become increasingly dependent on advertisers. But if journalism doesn’t hold power to account, democracy doesn't work.
On openDemocracy, we don’t shy away from fearless reporting. We’ve taken on G4S, governments and vast banks. Because we’re a not-for-profit, there are no corporate owners or shareholders expecting dividends. But it also means we need your support to continue.
Now, we're launching a funding appeal. It’s normal, when fundraising, to promise specific outcomes: to break it down into neat packages of “£2 pays for a coffee, £100 pays for an article”. But you know it’s not that simple.
The truth is that the best journalism comes when reporters follow whatever scent they find to wherever it takes them. That is what we are asking you to help pay for today. Please give what you can to help set journalism free – and we'll keep publishing the stories that others won't.
openDemocracy recently broke a story which casts a shadow over our democracy. Peter Oborne’s allegations that Britain’s Daily Telegraph has suppressed embarrassing stories about big corporations like HSBC in order to protect advertising revenues cannot be dismissed – and we now know this isn't an isolated example.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. As we have stopped paying for news, papers have become increasingly dependent on advertisers. But if journalism doesn’t hold power to account, democracy doesn't work.
On openDemocracy, we don’t shy away from fearless reporting. We’ve taken on G4S, governments and vast banks. Because we’re a not-for-profit, there are no corporate owners or shareholders expecting dividends. But it also means we need your support to continue.
Now, we're launching a funding appeal. It’s normal, when fundraising, to promise specific outcomes: to break it down into neat packages of “£2 pays for a coffee, £100 pays for an article”. But you know it’s not that simple.
The truth is that the best journalism comes when reporters follow whatever scent they find to wherever it takes them. That is what we are asking you to help pay for today. Please give what you can to help set journalism free – and we'll keep publishing the stories that others won't.