When we launched our NewsMatch campaign in November 2022, much of it was based on promise. We told you what we wanted a revamped Matter News to look like and the kinds of stories we hoped to tell – with frequency – if you stepped up and helped to fund us for the year (which you did, and we thank you).
Now, as we kick off NewsMatch 2023, we can point to a growing track record of impactful stories that have been posted daily since the New Year, and which have called increased attention to a range of issues that might not have otherwise been covered.
Here are just a handful of the features we produced this year that you couldn’t read anywhere else:
-We went deep on the changes at 400 West Rich and the impact felt by the studio’s artist tenants and the Franklinton neighborhood as a whole.
-We looked at the myriad ways the unhoused are harmed by encampment sweeps – a practice that is costly, doesn’t reduce homelessness and could increase deaths among those who are without housing.
-We covered a New Albany church that hosted a Christian nationalist program and explored the dangers of the rising political movement.
-When Columbus police released a video hyping its Black History Month police cruiser, we spoke with the artists whose work (unbeknownst to them) featured in the clip.
-We explored the city’s decision to enact a juvenile curfew in spite of the existence of numerous studies that have determined the practice has little to no impact on violent crime.
-We spoke with Maroon Arts Group about a rise in 311 complaints lodged against the MPACC Box Park in Bronzeville and the “weaponization of policy” that can fuel gentrification if left unchecked.
-Some local anti-trafficking organizations saw a spike in interest following the 2023 release of the much-debated film “Sound of Freedom,” but the outpouring arrived with an asterisk.
-And finally, we partnered with Columbus Monthly for an extensive look at the corrupt Columbus police Vice Unit, which disbanded four years ago but created an aftershock that can still be felt today.
In addition to the aforementioned, we’ve written hundreds of features covering the artists, musicians and community figures who help make Columbus such a vital place to live, in addition to producing monthly columns focused on development, the ongoing opioid epidemic, and LGBTQ issues.
And there's more to come. In future weeks, we'll be announcing a new pair of monthly features landing early in 2024, both of which we're extremely excited to debut.
As director and editor of Matter News, I believe we’re beginning to carve out an essential role in Columbus’ ever-evolving news landscape, and I have plans for how we can continue to grow and increase our impact as we move into the next year and beyond.
This is where you come in.
Readers, we can’t do this kind of work without your support. We have ambitious goals with this year’s NewsMatch campaign, and you can help us get there by making a one-time donation or signing up as a recurring monthly donor. Through the end of December, every one-time donation is doubled, while new monthly members will see their gift matched 12 times over.
This is possible due to the generosity of NewsMatch and this year's Local Match partners: The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Johnstone Fund for New Music, Rebecca Perry Damsen, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, Prologue Bookshop, and Winans Coffee & Chocolate.
As a bonus, all donations made to Matter News are tax deductible.
Click here to make a donation now.
If you don’t have the means to make a donation at this time, you can still help us by spreading the word. Share the campaign on social media. Tell your friends about us. Sign up for our weekly email. (As a reminder, Matter News has always been and will always be paywall-free.)
You’ll hear more from us in the coming weeks. And thank you as always for your continued support. I’m excited for what the future could hold.
