Hyped on hyperlocal news

Today we have an article about a proposal to create a Bill Walton Square near Helix High School, where his basketball career began. 

However, I’m mostly here to talk about Times of San Diego’s end-of-year fundraising campaign. This is the biggest campaign of the year, with the goal of $28,000 by Dec. 31 to meet the budget. 

From my perspective, this is a great way to invest in local news that promotes factual information, accountability and — most importantly — community.

I’ve seen coverage of La Mesa improve even in the few months since San Diego Community Newspaper Group, which owned La Mesa Courier, merged with Times of San Diego under the leadership of nonprofit NEWSWELL. We now have high-caliber interns assigned to this city, a bigger budget for freelance writers and photographers, a new newspaper layout and this weekly newsletter dedicated to La Mesa coverage. 

For the six years before that, I did good work as a reporter with extremely limited resources under former editor Jeff Clemetson and current editor Dave Thomas. 

It’s only been in the past few months that I’ve been able to do great work, thanks to the breathing room for more original, in-depth coverage at Times of San Diego. 

As a nonprofit, that investment in great work from me is only possible if you — the community — invest in us. 

So here’s my ask: Please donate if you can. Invest in me, in us, in La Mesa, in hyperlocal journalism, in freedom of the press.