John,

Happy New Year!

As COURIER’s founder and publisher, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you — and to share some genuinely good news.

Because of your support, COURIER raised more than $1 million online this year — entirely from grassroots donors who believe in independent, pro-democracy journalism.

That’s not just a milestone. It’s what allowed us to grow at a moment when so much of the media is shrinking, retreating, or folding under pressure.

Here’s what that support made possible:

• You powered 11 state-based newsrooms, delivering critical local reporting in battleground states at a time when efforts to defund public media have pushed local journalism into crisis.
• You helped turbo-charge our national reach, making COURIER one of the fastest-growing media outlets in the country. We now reach 8.5 million followers — more than doubling our audience since Trump’s reelection.
• From our reporting on Epstein to exposing abuses by ICE, your support allowed us to publish journalism that asks hard questions and doesn’t back down — proof that journalism still works when it’s accountable to people, not power.

I know inboxes are full this time of year. I just wanted you to hear directly from me how grateful I am — and how proud I am of what we’ve built together.

We have a lot of work ahead of us in 2026. This midterm election will be one of the most consequential in our nation’s history. But thanks to supporters like you, we’re entering the year strong, independent, and ready to keep publishing the courageous journalism this moment demands.

Thank you again for being part of this.

With gratitude,
Tara McGowan
Founder & Publisher
COURIER