Help Us Build the Inkstick Commons
Independent journalism is a public good. The Inkstick Commons is our way of keeping it that way.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been asking what would bring you closer to Inkstick’s journalism. And the answers so far have surprised us.
Again and again, you told us that you’re not looking for another subscription, another login, or another list of perks.
You want something simpler than that.
A way to help sustain journalism you believe should exist.
That conversation has inspired what we’re building next.
We’re calling it the Inkstick Commons.
To us, a commons is something we all benefit from because we all help care for it. We think independent journalism should work the same way. It shouldn’t belong to advertisers, algorithms, or a handful of powerful interests. It should belong in our shared civic life, sustained by people who believe it matters.
The Inkstick Commons will be a place for those supporters — not a paywall around our journalism, but a closer relationship with it. Members of the Commons will help make our reporting possible while joining us for occasional editorial briefings, conversations with our journalists, and behind-the-scenes looks at how our work comes together.
We’re still shaping it, and we’d love your help.
If you haven’t yet filled out our short survey, there’s still time. Your feedback is directly influencing what the Inkstick Commons becomes.
And if you already know you want to help sustain this work, becoming a paid subscriber today is one of the most meaningful ways to do that. Everyone who already supports Inkstick, whether through Substack or a donation on our site, will be among the very first members of the Inkstick Commons.
The world doesn’t need more content for content’s sake. It needs journalism that helps people understand how power shapes their lives — and the support to keep doing that work.
Thank you for being part of what’s next.
— Laicie Heeley