I want to share a little about how @sprawlcalgary is changing amid tumultuous times in the news industry. This week our team realized that we're not really a "pop-up journalism" outfit anymore. We're more than that, thanks to our members (1,040 and counting!). THREAD

Right now many news orgs are scaling back on staff and freelancers. It's dire. We're very fortunate to be going the other way, thanks to our members. We've increased our freelance budget in recent months, which means we can do more stories like this. https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/pandemic-life-alberta-1918

Our model is also changing. We still don't do press release journalism. We do slow journalism that goes beyond the daily news grind—like the latest Sprawlcast. But we've outgrown the model of ONLY doing "pop-up editions" focused on one thing at a time. https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/shandro-fiasco 

We'll keep doing editions on specific issues, but they'll be layered on top of the rest of the work we're already doing. Local public affairs journalism you won't find anywhere else. Sprawlcasts, in-depth reportage, and incisive analysis like this. https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/ministerial-responsibility-alberta

And comics! I love how @calgaryhester's pandemic comics have become such an integral part of the Sprawl, giving people a sense of hope and connection when they need it most. Thanks to our members, Sam's comic is now weekly, running every Saturday. https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/pandemic-gardening-calgary

Oh, and let's talk Sprawl Kids! It'll be an ongoing thing now, woven into the rest of our work. Pretty much everything we cover has a kids element—it's just that kids aren't usually asked. We're asking them. And we're making it fun. https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/sprawl-kids-lets-make-a-radio-show

In the early days, I'd ask: is the Sprawl just me, or more than me? That question is answered. It's much more than me. It's @XiMeNaKa (assistant editor). It's @calgaryhester (comics). It's @chrispecora (art director). It's our freelancers. And most importantly, it's our members.

Together, we've shown that yes, there's another way of doing local journalism—and people will support it. Not because they HAVE to, but because they WANT to. Because they want to be part of something bigger (don't we all?!).

If you have any feedback on this, lemme know! We're here to listen. And if you're not a member, please consider it. Everything in this thread was published in the last 10 days—thanks to people pitching in $5 or $10/mo.

Okay, have a good weekend! /end https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/support