AGR: The most difference for democracy money can buy

Thanks to our dedicated readers and dozens of incredible volunteers, local businesses and entertainers, Asheville Global Report is fast approaching eight years of publishing every week. A wholly grassroots labor of love, our independent newspaper has only been made possible because of motivated citizens brought together in collective dismay at the breathtaking, manipulative spin and lack of crucial information proffered by the corporate news media. To be sure, it's usually been a wing-and-a-prayer, catch-as-catch-can affair. All too recently, AGR was faced with the prospect of having to close up shop. But not only did our supporters rise to the occasion in the nick of time, you allowed us to continue to make impressive use of few resources to insure that the AGR could effectively reach even more people. Chief among these accomplishments was the ability to expand our newspaper's distribution with more copies and the addition of dozens of new locations to find us. If that weren't good enough, you allowed AGR to break bold new ground, building upon our newsprint edition with a brand new website, an electronic newsletter and a top notch radio program. What's more, we are very excited to announce that the next few weeks shall see our little-newspaper-that-could reach an even wider audience with the premier of an entirely new medium: television. Stay tuned, readers and listeners. The AGR will soon be in full view on local cable access channel URTV (channel 20)! You wanted a strong, independent voice, fighting for clarity in this increasingly muddled mire of tyrannical dreck that has shamed and abused the traditional role of the press in a democracy, and you let us thrive. You bought us sorely needed time to restructure internally and develop so that we could achieve even greater long-term sustainability. As a result, our volunteer base and readership has vastly grown and improved. And though AGR can now boast having readers in almost every state in the nation and across the globe, we must especially thank our local community for providing the bedrock of our support. Hats off to Western North Carolina for voting us #1 in Mountain Xpress' annual readers' choice poll this year, crowning us Best Free Paper Other Than Xpress. In a region flooded with dozens of free publications, we deeply appreciate such a distinction. Now for the paradox: Asheville Global Report is a unique newspaper in that we are a nonprofit group. Making money has never been our mission, or our forte. Making important, under-reported news freely available to the greater public has always been the first priority and what we do best. The underpaid grocery clerks, restaurant and retail workers who comprise the vast majority of AGR's volunteer workforce only have so much time to spare. So with no small amount of humility, twice a year, like most nonprofits, we are forced to beg you to help us continue our public service mission by making a donation to our seasonal fund drives. This letter marks the beginning of our Fall Fund Drive. Almost one year ago, we told you we had hoped to raise $80,000 to meet our goals. We've managed to pull in about $45,000 so far and not just meet those goals, but far surpass them with exciting, new developments and better quality journalism. By year's end, we'd still like to make that financial dream come true in order for our award-winning work to stay alive and grow. We've proven what we can do. If you haven't already joined the support network that makes Asheville Global Report possible, please think about it. Our republic is poised precariously over the precipice of tyranny–legalized torture, secret prisons, forced "disappearances," endless war, domestic spying–with the accompaniment of ever-increasing, amplified propaganda. AGR represents the collective will of hundreds of hard-working people urgently concerned not only about their future, but this damning and shameful present. Please help us continue to make a difference for democracy by making a donation, advertising with us, or attending one of our benefits. This is the only way we've ever been able to make it happen. As always, it will be you who decides whether or not the AGR continues. Thank you.