There is just one reason we have survived this long.

Friend ,

Last week, BuzzFeed News announced it was shutting down, becoming just the latest digital news outlet to close its doors in recent years.

In fact, so many news websites have gone out of business that one Guardian newspaper headline described the landscape as a “digital graveyard.”

In many ways, Common Dreams and BuzzFeed News couldn’t be more different. BuzzFeed’s primary purpose was to make money and generate returns for their investors. Ours is to ignite change for the common good and help foster a better and more sustainable world.

But in public statements about why they shut down, BuzzFeed News described many of the same headwinds that have pushed Common Dreams to the brink. Social media giants like Facebook have throttled traffic to news websites in order to hoard eyeballs and ad revenue for themselves. The pandemic undermined operations and rising costs that are beyond our control.

The biggest difference between Common Dreams and BuzzFeed is that we have you, our readers, as our primary source of funding. You are the reason we’re still here while others have gone to the “digital graveyard.” It’s a simple yet profound difference.

In order to stay alive, Common Dreams must raise $80,000 by May 1 to meet our Spring Campaign goal. Please chip in whatever you can afford. Every dollar counts, and we need you now.