Hi Reader,

Investigative journalism is a luxury that more and more newsrooms can no longer afford. Deep-dive reporting is slow and expensive — it can take journalists a long time to track down leads and understand the nuances of complex issues. Our climate change story from last week is one example of just what I mean.

The Great Climate Migration is a startling look at how serious the climate crisis truly is today. Senior environmental reporter Abrahm Lustgarten lays bare how so many areas in America are fast becoming inhospitable to humans and how extreme weather events become more the norm with each passing year. As our most habitable climates in North America are shifting ever northward, this country is on the brink of substantial migration as residents seek more temperate living conditions.

So much went into this investigative series: dozens of expert interviews from a variety of perspectives: agriculture, urban planning, insurance and more. ProPublica news apps developer Al Shaw took newly available data, analyzed it, and created a series of maps that show the likelihood of increased wildfires due to heat and drought, rising sea levels, reduced farm crop yields — and how all these calamities may affect every single county in America — truly a stunning and sobering visual presentation of climate change.

Thanks to the generosity of our readers, ProPublica is able to sustain this kind of pathbreaking reporting on the environment, health care, and other complex policy issues. This year alone, tens of thousands of ProPublicans have made a donation to help support our investigations.

I’m asking you today to join them and show your support for independent journalism that makes a real difference. We’re well on our way toward our goal of 1,000 donors for this Fall Member Drive, and your contribution will help us get there.

Investigative journalism is a luxury in so many struggling newsrooms, but not at ProPublica — it’s the heart of what we do. And with your help, we can do even more. Donate today and help power the stories of tomorrow.

Thanks so much,
Jill Shepherd
Proud ProPublican