Why I Write for Inkstick — and Why You Should Support the Outlet

“I wasn’t familiar with your work, but when I saw your website, I trusted you.”

That’s what a source recently told me before agreeing to talk on the record about a sensitive topic. Many people I interview request to speak anonymously. They’re fearful of some kind of punishment, often from law enforcement or the US government. Their fears are valid. This source felt that fear and still gave me permission to use his name.

Not because of who I am, but because of who Inkstick is.

He saw how Inkstick handles intricate issues, and he felt at ease knowing his story would be shared thoroughly and accurately.

That’s no small thing.

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Multiple surveys show trust in the media is at an all-time low. Brand-name outlets with ample resources may be seen as the worst violators of the public’s trust, but all outlets suffer from this reputational drought — especially those who don’t have ample resources.

That’s why NewsMatch is so important, and that’s why I write for Inkstick.

Just as that source trusted our name, I have the utmost trust and confidence in this incredible team. We’re home to driven, talented and knowledgeable writers who are untangling some of the most complex and urgent challenges our world faces. And while I’ve been lucky enough to publish stories in some of the most widely-read newspapers and magazines in the world, my work with Inkstick has been the most rewarding experience of my career so far.

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My first Inkstick assignment began with an email from an old friend, Patrick Strickland. He’d been working with Inkstick for about a year, and he was looking for new writers, especially those who could cover the US. I jumped at the chance to work with a great writer and reporter who has told essential stories on multiple continents. I was also intrigued by Inkstick.

By focusing on people whose lives are shaped by global stories, this website makes a distinctive and valuable contribution to the world of media. That’s the kind of work you can support with a NewsMatch donation, and these are the types of stories you’ll help us tell:

• A haunting personal essay by a writer whose father disappeared into Israel’s prison system

• A deftly reported piece on Lebanese farmers under siege

• In-depth podcasts spotlighting leaders we don’t hear enough about

• Critical updates on neo-Nazis in Greece (courtesy of an expert on the topic)

These are the types of deeply human stories that are only possible because of our supporters and because of writers who care about people and our world.

These are the types of stories that instill trust.

And trust is more valuable than ever.

Tyler Hicks, Inkstick reporting fellow