Keeping local news strong because of you

Hello,

On the first Monday of every month, I get to write to you to share what’s going on here behind the scenes. I always sit here with the cursor blinking on the screen before me and take a few minutes to look back on what we did that month and the difference your support makes. To be candid, it feels even more important this month.

As we continue to watch nonprofit news organizations around the nation lay off staff or close altogether, we are extremely grateful to you, our supporters, who make the North Dakota News Cooperative possible. At NDNC, we’ve never received federal or state funding, so the funding cuts at those levels don’t directly affect us. But they do indirectly impact us.

We are 100 percent funded by grants and donations from supporters like you. We know many of you are also supporting other nonprofit news organizations like Prairie Public, which recently suffered major cuts in federal and state funding. People have lost their jobs, and the community stands to lose some of the important programming and services Prairie Public provides. That’s heartbreaking to me. Like you, I see great value in nonprofit news and educational programming.

I also see the community stepping up and coming together to give support where they can.

I was able to attend Prairie Public’s State of the Station event last week in Fargo. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger came from the national PBS office in Virginia to talk about the budget cuts. I was honored to get to speak briefly afterwards with her and Fargo’s Prairie Public President and CEO John Harris. Both of them were hopeful for the future.

So are we. At NDNC, we actively support North Dakota’s newspapers by producing free, high-quality reporting that they can publish for their readers. Every story we share, every reader we reach, happens because of your support.

Here are just some of the things you made happen in September.

• We published “Newspapers have bright future in local communities, if they embrace change,” exploring how North Dakota’s local papers can adapt and thrive by innovating, engaging readers, and embracing collaboration.

• Our story “Amid continued statewide housing shortfalls, some hope for renewed efforts” examined rural housing challenges and highlighted new initiatives aimed at helping communities build more homes.

• We featured “North Dakota’s running and biking events boost health, tourism, and local spirit,” showing how these community events strengthen both physical wellness and local economies.

• Through our Gigafact partnership, we published a Fact Brief asking “Are peer-to-peer gun sales legal in North Dakota?” to clarify state and federal laws around private firearm transfers.

• Another Fact Brief explored “Do data centers increase electricity demand and infrastructure costs in their regions?” breaking down the energy implications of large-scale digital infrastructure.

As my cursor continues to blink at me, I’m reminded again of why this work matters. It matters because of you. Your continued belief in our work reminds me that our mission is not only necessary. It’s valued. Thank you for helping ensure North Dakotans have access to the trusted reporting they deserve.

With gratitude,

Sabrina Halvorson

CEO, North Dakota News Cooperative