We need you in this time of crisis

 

Dear Readers,

Our newsroom has never seen anything quite like COVID-19 and the daily, almost hourly, changes in the responses from medical professionals and elected officials. The high level of contagion and the vicious nature of the symptoms has made it imperative to give our readers access to the best, latest information available.

At the same time, we want to let our readers know what their fellow Maricopans are doing in the midst of the pandemic. Last week alone, we published stories on business, government and community responses, talked with high school students about their lost final quarter and touched base with a local man now in recovery from the virus.

We have never demanded subscriptions, relying on our advertising partners to fund our work as the top news source. But it is scary out there right now.

We have felt the support of our readers and advertising partners and are very grateful. We see other news media across the country forced to cut staff and even shut down because the heavy toll on local businesses has slashed advertising revenue. This is happening at a time when local news is more important than ever.

To continue to grow our local coverage of COVID-19’s impact on Maricopa in the difficult weeks to come while continuing our day-to-day newsgathering, we are partnering with the Local Media Association’s foundation to ask our readers to help with a tax-deductible donation at GiveButter.com/inmaricopa.

We are calling on individuals, businesses and community foundations to help fund COVID-19 coverage and deliver life-saving news and information. Even $20 can help. Please support these efforts by donating. We are investing those contributions right back into community news coverage.

Thank you for your consideration. And thank you for reading us and supporting local journalism.

Stay safe, Maricopa.

Raquel Hendrickson
Editor | InMaricopa