Since the 2008/2009 recession, American newspaper jobs have fallen 51%, and COVID-19 has accelerated the industry’s crisis: As of this past December, at least 60 local newsrooms across the U.S. have shuttered since March, some of them more than a century old.

Here at home, Moonshine’s Members have kept us afloat to keep shining light on the region’s problems. 2020 marked the year we have been in business 18 years, having published 216 monthly print editions and winning as many first place awards in the National Newspaper Association contest as the years we’ve existed. It also marked the year that 400 community members chipped into our membership campaign, raising us so far a total of almost $60,000.

Join the ranks to save the Ink here, and read the testimonials below from staff and readers about why they Shine.