View this post on the web at [link removed]

Dear Inkstick reader,
In a moment of rising authoritarianism, in a world that is growing more violent by the day, independent journalism should serve a vital purpose: to separate fact from fiction, and to peel back the layers of misinformation put out by strongmen, war profiteers, and demagogues. That’s exactly what we do at Inkstick, and it’s why we need your support [ [link removed] ] to keep confronting power head-on.
Throughout my 15 years as a journalist, I’ve reported from more than 20 countries across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. I’ve covered war, mass displacement, and the bloody resurgence of the far right — and if there’s one constant in it all, it’s that the powerful always fight tooth and nail against a truly independent and adversarial press.
That’s why I joined Inkstick Media two years ago. I had already spent years working for international and local news outlets and newspapers, but none have been as dedicated as Inkstick Media to shining a light on injustice and doggedly insisting on keeping the people impacted by war, conflict, and authoritarianism at the center of their own stories.
Believe me: If I didn’t believe in Inkstick’s work, I wouldn’t be reaching out to you today to ask for your support. Any donations [ [link removed] ] up to $1,000 you make to Inkstick between now and the end of the year will count double — if you chip in $500, NewsMatch will match your donation and Inkstick will receive $1,000. If you send $1,000, Inkstick will get $2,000.
Not convinced yet? Just keep reading.
What Do We Do at Inkstick?
Rather than pick a flashy headline that will rake in plenty of clicks but not inform readers of much, Inkstick is committed to on-the-ground reporting and fearless analysis.
In early 2024, Inkstick [ [link removed] ]sounded the alarm [ [link removed] ] when Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s name quietly resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo — long before most outlets noticed the story. This past January, Inkstick teamed up with Greek, Spanish, Swiss, and German newsrooms to produce a [ [link removed] ]joint investigation [ [link removed] ] into the growing use of artificial intelligence-powered surveillance on Europe’s borders. In the last year alone, our contributors have reported from the frontlines of Gaza [ [link removed] ], disputed Kashmir [ [link removed] ], and post-Assad Syria [ [link removed] ].
And in the United States, where a far-right campaign to dismantle democracy is underway, we have taken a hard look at the breakneck [ [link removed] ]militarization of American cities [ [link removed] ], the [ [link removed] ]mistruths [ [link removed] ] that help keep the military industrial complex profitable, and the increasingly blurred lines [ [link removed] ] between anti-immigrant vigilantes and law enforcement.
Still not sold? Don’t take my word for it, then. Listen to Laicie Heeley, the founder and editor-in-chief of Inkstick Media, speak about why she launched the outlet in the first place:
How Will Your Support Help?
Your support for Inkstick will go directly toward our reporting. In 2026, Inkstick plans to dig in deeper and bring you the most important — and the most overlooked — news about war, conflict, and power in the United States and abroad. With your help, we will be able to take on even more ambitious reporting projects and better compensate our contributors, whether they’re reporting from the frontlines of Trump’s federal deployment in Chicago or the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
This is a crucial moment for the media in the United States. Attacks on the press are becoming routine, and financial support for journalism is shrinking. That’s why nonprofit newsrooms like Inkstick’s rely on readers like you for support [ [link removed] ].
During last year’s NewsMatch campaign, Inkstick raised $6,000. This year, we hope you will help us reach our goal of $15,000. Will you donate today [ [link removed] ] so that your support counts double?
With Gratitude,
Patrick Strickland, managing editor
Inkstick relies on donations, and fundraisers like this one, to exist. We appreciate your patience with extra emails during these times. If you’d rather not hear so much from us, you can opt out of our end-of-year campaign by clicking here [ [link removed] ] and adjusting your Substack preferences. Thanks for being in Inkstick’s community.

Unsubscribe [link removed]?