Hi Tupolef, 

Today is World Press Freedom Day, a celebration the United Nations established more than  30 years ago to remind us that a free press is essential to a functioning and ethical society and is a critical force for the public good. 

That focus feels more critical than ever as attacks against the press increase and funding for public media is threatened this year. For example, late last year, student journalists at the Mercury, the student-run paper at the University of Texas-Dallas, went on strike after school officials fired their editor-in-chief, Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, over the paper’s coverage of protests against the war in Gaza.

Censorship will grow with the White House and Texas Legislature assuming ever more menacing control over universities. (Lucky for us, UTD’s loss was the Observer’s gain, as we snapped up Gregorio, a talented reporter, to write freelance stories for us.  We could do that thanks partly to generous support from readers like you.

If you’re concerned about what elected officials might be doing in the shadows, or how your tax dollars are being spent, you care about press freedom. If you want to know if politicians are living up to campaign promises and listening to the people they aim to serve, you care about press freedom. I also suspect, if you’re here reading this, you care about us. 

Today, I’m asking you to stand up for a free press and to celebrate World Press Freedom Day with us by making a contribution to the Dallas Observer. Your support directly impacts our ability to produce our work and hold the powerful accountable. Without it, we can’t win this fight. What do you say? Can you spare a few dollars and show your support for a free press everywhere?

We can’t do this work without people like you supporting us. To a free press, now and always.

With gratitude,

Patrick Williams
Editor-in-Chief

Questions? See our ‘FAQs’ or send us an email at supportus@dallasobserver.com