A letter from editor David Floyd explaining why our newspaper needs your support

The cover of the October issue of Barnet Post

Dear Readers,

We’re massively grateful for the support we’ve had for Barnet Post from the local community in Barnet over the past year: reading the paper, sharing content online, tipping us off about stories and writing brilliant pieces for the paper.

Unfortunately, the only way for the paper to continue in print is for more of you to support us financially.

The publisher of Barnet Post, Social Spider CIC, is a small not-for-profit organisation.

We exist because we believe local news is vital for democracy and community – and we want to publish the best possible local news in as many local areas as possible.

Barnet Post relaunched in print last December on a deliberately frugal basis. We print and distribute 15,000 free copies of the paper across the borough each month at very low cost due to being part of a small group of local not-for-profit newspapers.

While we want to generate more income to do more journalism, all we need to justify continued print publication for the foreseeable future is to be able to cover the design print and distribution costs of £3,000 per month.

We are not currently in a position to cover those costs in November.

How you can help

Currently we have 48 supporters in Barnet for Barnet Post compared to 316 in Waltham Forest for our sister publication, Waltham Forest Echo.

You can become a monthly supporter from £5 per month – or annual supporter for £50 per year.

If we can secure at least 100 additional supporters for Barnet Post by October 14th, we will continue in print.

I’ve loved editing Barnet Post in print over the last year and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieve so far.

During that time we have:

Published 2036 stories online between September 2023 and September 2024
Been the only local news organisation reporting from the general election count
Interviewed Sir Keir Starmer on a visit to the borough
Provided an outlet for diverse political viewpoints within the borough
Reviewed local professional and amateur theatre and arts events
Published informative columns by local voluntary sector organisations
Provided the only in-depth guide to local candidates at this year’s elections
Given an outlet for local young people to publish stories about issues that are important to them

We are not looking for excuses to close the paper in print, we are looking for excuses to keep it going.

If we get quite close to the income targets we have set, we will probably decide to carry on.

But at this point we really need your help.

Please support us if you can – and let other people know about our appeal.

David

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.