Jack, it's happened again: Last week the Texas Tribune announced it had to lay off 11 percent of its staff.

These types of cuts to news outlets have become far too common. Many thought, hoped, that we saw the peak of news media layoffs during the height of the pandemic, but 2023 has now surpassed 2020 for a record number of media job cuts.

Years ago, Daily Kos realized that advertising revenue was no longer enough to cover all our expenses. We diversified our revenue and today, we rely on three sources of revenue: advertising, community fundraising, and list building. Now, donations from supporters like you, Jack, are what fuels our work. Support Daily Kos with a donation of $5 today.

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In a statement to the staff of the Tribune, chief executive Sonal Shah said:

“There is no media company — commercial, nonprofit or public — that isn’t experiencing some version of this, difficult choices now will position the newsroom to deal with challenges posed by artificial intelligence, uneven news readership and engagement, changing audience behaviors and the growing phenomenon of news avoidance.”

“The challenge is that our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our expenses.”

Daily Kos isn't immune to the financial struggles that have plagued other news media companies. We have had two of our three revenue sources continually lag behind projections, making it harder to cover operating expenses. Earlier this year, we were forced to make deep financial cuts and other changes in hopes of improving our financial sustainability.

For years now, Daily Kos has relied on donations of just a few dollars from our readers and activists to help us make ends meet. Today, those grassroots donations are our largest source of income to help us pay the bills.

Honestly, we prefer it this way because it makes us accountable to you—not to some billionaire or corporation with their own agenda. We know that in order to keep operating, we have to fight and deliver for what you believe in.

Can you please support progressive, independent news and activism with a donation of $5 or more?

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Thank you for all you do,
Amanda McKay, Daily Kos

If you wish to donate by mail instead, please send a check to Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Contributions to Daily Kos are not tax deductible.