From the staff: Our reporting relies on your support
By Brandi Makuski and Patrick Lynn
If you’re like most people, you don’t know much about the local news scene. Portage Co. has lost nearly a dozen journalism jobs in the past three years. It begs the question: “What local news isn’t getting reported?”
The corny title (and nature) of this piece aside, the staff at the Point/Plover Metro Wire is hard at work filling this news gap. And for the past two years, we’ve been exceeding your expectations with exclusive stories, investigative journalism, and regular coverage of news in Stevens Point, Hull, Whiting, Park Ridge, and the Village of Plover.
In the weeks to come, you can expect us to expand our news coverage into rural areas, like the Town of Plover, Rosholt, Junction City, Amherst, and other areas in Portage Co.
So, if we’re so dedicated, why can’t we just sell advertising to pay our bills? That’s a great question, and one we hear a lot. According to a June 2018 study by Pew Research Center, advertising revenue for news outlets has declined from $65 billion in 2000 to less than $19 billion in 2016. Locally, advertisers use their own social media pages, of Facebook groups, to advertise—and often, for free.
So we can’t do it without your help. Local news can only survive with the support of the community it serves. And yes—we do consider ourselves public servants. Journalists work long hours that are rarely reflected on a paycheck, and we report news that doesn’t always make us many friends at City Hall.
We ask hard questions to find out where your tax money goes. We shine a spotlight in some places elected officials would prefer to hide. Sometimes, we take a lot of heat for our hard work: but our work is supported by documentation, quotes, and video, and as often as possible, multiple sources.
And when there are questions that go unanswered, or there are contradictions in the responses of an elected official, it’s our job to report that, too.
In essence, we work for you, the reader. When you speak, we listen.
Our newsroom has received many emails in recent weeks from folks looking to subscribe, but unable to do so via our current PayPal system. They either don’t have a PayPal account or do not wish to create one. We get it, and we’re happy to say we can now offer you that alternative.
We still utilize PayPal as our payment gateway, but you no longer need a PayPal account to subscribe. Our system is secure and your payment information will be protected.
Along with total access to all the daily news at spmetrowire.com, you’ll also receive Wired In, our weekly newsletter with all the week’s news delivered to your inbox on Sunday. It’s the best way to stay informed about everything happening in our community!
At $2.50 a month, it’s a great deal. You’re supporting a veteran-owned company, with all owners and investors living full-time inside Portage Co., and we provide news you simply can’t find anywhere else.
We look forward to serving you!
*You can also pay by check. Please mail $60 to Point/Plover Metro Wire, PO Box 905, Stevens Point, Wis., 54481. Don’t forget to include your full name and email address.
