Have you ever wondered what it costs to publish a story you read on the Prospect? While it’s free to read, it’s not free to produce—and I want to share with you some of the costs involved.

If you’ve enjoyed the Prospect’s stories but haven’t paid for it, you should know that another reader is picking up your tab. You can help pay it forward by becoming a member now, and your support will also drive our 2022 Future Prospect initiative.

Let me break it down for you.

There are long stories and short stories; daily pieces, investigative features and much more—and the costs vary. But let’s look at something that’s pretty typical for us: a thorough, originally reported piece that makes sure we’ve informed you well.

A reporter can spend several days on this; emails and phone calls go back and forth with sources and editors—not to mention attending events and doing research before a single word is written. A photographer or graphic designer may also produce the striking visuals to go alongside it. There are folks who work to get it online, write newsletters, post on social media and moderate impact and response.

A quick estimate for all that work? $1,965.58 for one story. And we do that hundreds of times a year.

We haven’t worked in insurance and legal fees, rent or printing costs, or anything other than the hours members of our staff worked so that our readers can get it for free—because our reporting remains freely accessible. In fact, we estimate that for every one paying reader we have, we can make reporting free for 99 more.

That’s important, because the cost of not doing this is even higher. There’s no deal on democracy. When independent news outlets shut down, civic participation withers, and corporate misconduct and public corruption flourish.

That’s why we need your help. While the cost of an article is subsidized by other revenue we bring in, the changing economy, competition from tech platforms and the impact of the pandemic means that our readers need to stand up and support the journalism they depend on to keep them informed and engaged.

Reader support doesn’t just allow us to keep the lights on, it’s our most sustainable lifeline that also keeps us independent of pressure and influence from advertisers, politicians and special interests.

Isn’t independent, authoritative and in-depth reporting worth paying for?