Happy Local News Day! This unofficial holiday is spearheaded by a coalition of reporters and journalism organizations, and communities all over the country are marking the occasion by deepening connections with the newsrooms they trust.
Many of you have told us that we have earned your trust, which is huge. That is our most important goal and central to our mission. Today, we could use your help: We’d like to get to know more members of the Tenderloin community, and have a chance to earn their trust as well. Would you introduce us?
There are many ways you can do this, and each makes a difference, even the ones that might seem small:
1. You can share this post using the dropdown menu at the top right of the text. If you want to add a note about what the Tenderloin Voice means to you or why you’re sharing it, so much the better!
2. We’re very proud of our print zine, and it’s gotten rave reviews (Issue 2 is out and circulating!). If you have a copy to spare, could you pass along the zine to a friend or neighbor? Don’t worry, there are more — you can replenish your supply at several locations in and around the neighborhood.
3. Share a testimonial. We’re elated when we get positive feedback from you because it means we’re doing something right, but we’d like to take things a step farther. Our partners and potential funders don’t want to just take our word for it when we say we serve this community. They want to hear it from you. So, if you have something to say — or have said something in the past — that we can share, please get in touch by emailing hello@tlvoice.org.
4. Whether online or in person, talk us up a bit. Since we’re not producing the sort of content that is designed to grab eyeballs from all over the world, the main way new readers learn about us is by word of mouth. In the internet era, that includes social media posts! Whether it’s mentioning us at your neighborhood cleanup, to your barber, during a hangout with friends, or in a post that tags us, when you talk about us, that’s an invaluable endorsement.
5. The above are all important ways you can help us grow without opening your wallet, but let’s be honest, we could also use your financial support. If you have the means, and if you believe in what we’re doing, we hope you’ll consider taking this meaningful step to help us achieve financial viability. It doesn’t need to be a big sum — even $3 per month shows us that you’re in this with us.
Whether you can do all of these things or just part of one: Thank you so much. Your support means the world. And if you have other ideas or suggestions for ways we can broaden our reach in this community, we welcome them.
I'm a journalist who has covered San Francisco and the Bay Area in writing, audio and video for about a decade; started and hosted a few podcasts; and co-founded News Relay Network, publisher of the Tenderloin Voice. Reach me at laura@tlvoice.org.
I have worked in local journalism for over ten years leading community engagement, operations, development, and co-founded News Relay Network, publisher of the Tenderloin Voice.
I'm a journalist who has reported for years on San Francisco topics like homelessness, housing, and governance. I co-founded News Relay Network, publisher of the Tenderloin Voice, where I write and edit. Reach me at noah@tlvoice.org.
