ALXnow is producing more original local news coverage month over month than at any time in its history, establishing itself as an essential community resource. However, a challenging economic climate for advertising is threatening our ability to maintain that pace. To bridge that gap and continue our dogged coverage of Alexandria, we are launching a June membership drive for our recently formed ALXnow Press Club.
Over the past three months, our team has produced more than 730 stories—the vast majority of which are original, in-depth reports you won’t find anywhere else. We are digging deep into city government and budgets, providing regular updates on Alexandria City Public Schools, and diligently covering crucial beats like criminal justice and local business. By attending nearly every notable local meeting and reporting on daily events, we ensure you stay connected to what’s happening across Alexandria.
This level of hyperlocal coverage is rare for a community like Alexandria today, and it’s not easy to maintain. Unfortunately, the current economic uncertainty is contributing to a meaningful downturn in our primary source of revenue: advertising by local businesses and organizations.
To ensure our work continues to grow and serve the community, we launched the ALXnow Press Club in March. We are thrilled and humbled that more than 100 of your friends and neighbors have already joined. Now, to weather a sustained economic downturn, we need to build on that momentum.
If you value what we do and have been considering joining, now is the perfect time to take the next step. We are setting a goal to recruit 100 new members this June.
Your support is not just altruism — you’ll also get some great features that Press Club members already love, including:
- Morning Briefing: A hand-curated newsletter with all the latest news and information you need to start your day. With this newsletter, you’ll never miss a thing! Delivered Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. (See a sample of the newsletter here.)
- News Alerts + Exclusive Content: Be the first to learn about important breaking news, new restaurant and business openings, special deals, and more.
- Virtual Feedback & Ideas Hour: These exclusive sessions, held a couple of times per month, provide a direct line to Publisher Ryan Belmore. Press Club members can drop in anytime during the hour via Google Meet to share story ideas, provide feedback on reporting, discuss what’s important in the community, and even submit questions for upcoming stories and interviews.
- And More! We’re always looking for new ways to connect with our community and supporters.
If you believe in the importance of daily, independent local news that is free for everyone to read, your support makes a direct impact. It ensures our reporters can stay focused on what matters most to Alexandria.
Click here to join the ALXnow Press Club today.
Of course, if you own a business, you can also support our efforts by advertising with us. Our advertising opportunities are effective and affordable!
Thank you for reading and for your support of local news in Alexandria.
