Since launching Philomath News in November 2020, the archives show that I’ve published 8,747 posts — that includes local stories, photo galleries and partner content. Not counting this one, I’ve written 2,161 stories with my name on them and 4,441 under the Philomath News byline.
Those numbers don’t count local stories and photo galleries that I’ve paid freelancers to produce but the point I’m trying to make here is the emphasis that I place on local reporting. If you do the math, it shows that at least 75% and probably closer to 80% of the content on this news site is local to our community.
I started Philomath News about 10 weeks after the Corvallis Gazette-Times opted to shut down the Philomath Express and give me a pink slip. Having worked in this community since 2014, I had a pretty good feeling that folks would support a local news product. The big question was would readers be welcoming to all-digital news.
The Philomath News experiment has been a success as far as the number of people reading the content. The page view numbers have gone from 698,000 in 2022 to 843,600 in 2023 to 1.4 million in 2024. So far in 2025, I’m on track to reach 1.5 million page views.
During those initial weeks of setting up the operation, I had to make some tough decisions. I opted to form an LLC instead of a nonprofit organization, the latter coming with a lot of hoops to jump through but not allowing me to accept tax-deductible donations. I also decided to not put up a paywall so that anyone in Philomath (or anywhere else) could read the news.
I’m not comfortable asking for money — whether it comes from the voluntary membership system that I set up or trying to convince local businesses that it’s a good idea to get their brand in front of the readers. Despite those rising page views, the revenue numbers have not increased at the same pace. In fact, the bottom line is lagging about $5,000 behind last year — mostly because of the loss of two major advertisers, very few new members/subscribers and expenses that just keep going up every year.
The current economic climate is not comfortable for many people and paying for news is not a high priority — I understand. I actually pay myself a very modest salary for the amount of work that I put in and most of my freelancers are accepting payment for much less than they’re worth.
Interaction with readers has increased at the same rate as those page views I mentioned earlier. I’m overwhelmed with story ideas and coverage requests (and as a one-person newsroom, I sometimes have to decline). Despite this, many choose not to contribute to the cause or perhaps take the local news for granted.
The positive here is that for the most part, Philomath residents seem to want professionally reported local news and sports. They understand that this town could become a “news desert” like so many other communities of this size around the state and nation.
I’ve reached 4-1/2 years and I’ve decided to replace my Three Things column this week with this request for financial support in an attempt to replenish the operating funds. Many of you already contribute and you know how much I appreciate you. I feel it’s important to bring in some new contributors to keep this news site operating on a healthy level.
For those with an interest in giving, remember that you can’t write it off because I do not have nonprofit status. This is just volunteering to pay for a service — local news.
Here’s how you can help:
- Sign up online for a voluntary membership with a monthly recurring payment. Click here to contribute $7 per month, here for $15 per month and here for $35 per month.
- If you’d rather pay annually, that is also an option. Click here to contribute $77 per year, here for $150 per year and here for $350 per year.
- If you don’t want to commit to a recurring payment, you can also do a one-time payment of any amount.
- For those who would rather write a check for any of those membership levels or for any amount, please make it out to Philomath News LLC and mail it to: Philomath News, 1604 Timothy St., Philomath, OR 97370.
- If you own a business or head up an organization, you can support Philomath News and also help yourselves by advertising. Contact me via email for more information but in short, the rates are reasonable with a range of $45 per month for a logo ad to $115 per month for a skyscraper ad. Nonprofits receive a 15% discount.
I’ll leave you with this to think about when it comes to Philomath News. I promote our community, I write about interesting people and organizations, I report on new businesses of interest, I get the facts when tragedy strikes, I keep an eye on local government and I share the triumphs (and challenges) of our young people, including all of those sporting events that I cover year after year. And I put it all together in a free newsletter that is sent five times per week.
Plus, I’m local and independent. I am not operated by an out-of-state media corporation.
And it’s free to all — funded by readers.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
