Stephen Leahy, International Environmental Journalist

News media are in serious decline

In the past couple of years more than 31,000 journalists and editors lost their jobs in the US alone. I’ve spoken to many freelance journalists around the world and important stories are not getting published due to budget cuts – this includes the New York Times, Newsweek, the big UK papers.

“I’m pretty damn angry that media companies are putting profits ahead of truth. The media are deeply broken… That’s a real threat to democracy.”

– Stanford University Climate scientist Stephen Schneider told me in an interview about the distortions around global warming by powerful vested interests.

There is little choice but to try a new form of public journalism called Community Supported Journalism where individuals support independent journalists who craft honest and thoughtful articles about important subjects the mainstream media ignores or distorts.

Many people, including leading scientists, have told me: ‘we need people like you to write about these issues‘. I’d like to do far more but my time is largely gobbled up trying to figure out how to put bread on the table.

How Community Supported Journalism works:

It works on trust and a fair exchange. In exchange for investigation, research, writing about what’s important for all of us to know so we can make informed decisions, people like you provide some support. In an earlier age story-tellers like me would have come to your village, taught your children and told you useful stories about what I’d learned from wise elders in other villages in exchange for a place to sleep and something to eat.

Today those stories are delivered electronically not in person. This seems to make it difficult for many people to participate in an exchange for mutual benefit. I give my articles to you for free. I could figure out a subscription or pay-per-click system but that feels wrong. Would you ask for $20 before telling someone where the exit is during a fire? (ok, that’s a bit over the top but hope you get my meaning here.)

Reciprocity, co-operation and community are some of the key values we need live by to face the current challenges.

After 16 years people trust me to do good, well-researched journalism about important issues that are not covered by mainstream media. Your contributions help cover the costs of doing independent environmental journalism. No media pays for expenses or travel costs any more. They often only pay $150 for an in-depth article that took the better part a week to research and write. It will cost about $15,000 for the work to continue in 2010. [UPDATE August 31st: $11000 still needs to be raised before the end of this year.]

Please consider $50, $100 or more — less than cost of a newspaper or cable TV subscription — for coverage of important issues that shape our world and our future. Contributions can be made safely and easily viaPayPal or Credit Card @

Automatic Monthly Support: This option means I can spend more time writing instead of fund raising. (This is limited to 1 year/12 mths. It will be your decision to continue.)

$20 a month

$30 a month

$50 a month

[Or contact me for mailing address.]

All articles are sent to supporters, available on this website and accessible to millions of people around the world on other news websites such as IPS, Reuters AlertNet, TerraViva, Tierramerica, Common Dreams, InfoSud, Straightgoods.com and many more news networks that have little money for original journalism but many readers.

“We need people like you. In tough economic times, where information flow is increasingly channelled and controlled, you perform a simply critical role. Hang in there. You are an admirable role model for the future.”

– E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor, University of Guelph.

“Stephen Leahy has done a superb job exposing the enormous sums the US government is spending on corporate welfare for big oil.”

Ross Gelbspan, Pulitzer-prize winning editor and author of The Heat is On

“Stephen has mastered the art of accurately and engagingly conveying complex scientific ideas to a lay audience; the feedback we get on his work tends to be glowing, both from readers and researchers — which is a rare thing.”

– Katherine Stapp, IPS Regional Editor, North America and the Caribbean

My continued appreciation to those who have contributed in the past.