Publisher growth tactics for election season | WEBINAR

Learn More

SODP

SODP Media

  • Insights
    • Articles
      • Audience Development
      • Content Strategy
      • Digital Publishing
      • Monetization
      • SEO
      • Digital Platforms & Tools
    • Top Tools & Reviews
    • Opinion
    • Podcast
  • Education
    • Publisher SEO Course
    • Events
      • Monetization Week 2025
  • Resources
  • Community
    • Slack Channel
    • Newsletter
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Policy
  • English
sodp logo
SODP logo
    Search
    Close this search box.
    Login
    • Insights
      • Podcast
      • Articles
        • Audience Development
        • Content Strategy
        • Digital Publishing
        • Monetization
        • SEO
        • Digital Platforms & Tools
      • Top Tools & Reviews
        • Articles
        • Top Tools & Reviews
        • Opinion
        • Podcasts
        • Audience Development
        • Content Strategy
        • Digital Publishing
        • Monetization
        • SEO
        • Digital Platforms & Tools
        • Headless CMS Platforms
        • Digital Publishing Platforms
        • Editorial Calendar Software
        • Magazine Apps
        • Email Newsletter Platforms
        • More Best Tools Lists
    • Education
      • Publisher SEO Course
        • Publisher SEO Course
        • Events
        • Monetization Week 2025
        • View all
    • Resources
    • Community
      • Slack Channel
      • Office Hours
      • Newsletter
        • Slack Channel
        • Newsletter
    • About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Editorial Policy
        • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Editorial Policy
    placeholder
    SODP logo
    Become a Brand Partner

    Home ▸ Digital Publishing ▸ Ad-free “unbreaking news” platform The Correspondent hits $2.5 million crowdfunding goal

    Ad-free “unbreaking news” platform The Correspondent hits $2.5 million crowdfunding goal

    Shelley SealeShelley Seale
    January 5, 2019
    Fact checked by Vahe Arabian
    Vahe Arabian
    Vahe Arabian

    Founder and Editor in Chief of State of Digital Publishing. My vision is to provide digital publishing and media professionals a platform to collaborate and promote their efforts, my passion is to uncover talent and… Read more

    Edited by Vahe Arabian
    Vahe Arabian
    Vahe Arabian

    Founder and Editor in Chief of State of Digital Publishing. My vision is to provide digital publishing and media professionals a platform to collaborate and promote their efforts, my passion is to uncover talent and…Read more

    Correspondent

    The Correspondent, a new online media platform for unbreaking news, successfully reached its membership crowdfunding goal of $2.5 million in 29 days. The funding will enable The Correspondent to build a newsroom of full-time correspondents, editors, developers, designers, operations, and back-office staff in anticipation of the launch of the platform by mid-2019. Nearly 43,000 founding members from more than 130 countries were part of the initial crowdfunding investors.

    Why it Matters:

    The funding will allow The Correspondent to embark on its mission to change what news is about, how it’s made, and how it’s funded. The massive success of crowdfunding membership in such a venture also bodes well for the future of this type of journalism. The organization set a goal to raise $2.5 million in one month; just 23 days into that month, it broke the world record for number of backers in a journalism crowdfunding campaign, reaching 18,934 investors.

    Digging Deeper:

    The Correspondent’s unique model allows members to collaborate with correspondents and editors throughout the reporting process — sharing knowledge, expertise, and personal experiences to shape the stories. The organization is also built on the belief that journalism should be affordable to everyone, operating on a “choose what you pay” model.

    “We’re so happy to actually see it work,” said Rob Wijnberg, founding editor. “This way we are directly funded by our readers, yet still accessible to everybody. We’re a member-funded public good. It’s a win-win.”

    New members can continue to join The Correspondent and choose their own membership fee, which will give them access to the platform for one full year after launch. The median membership fee selected so far has been $30.

    The Bottom Line:

    “We’re overwhelmed and humbled by the support we’ve received from our supporters all over the world,” Wijnberg said. “The fact that we hit our fundraising goal in such a short period of time shows how much people care about journalism, and how willing they are to pay for it. We can’t wait to start building a newsroom together and telling stories that will help us understand the world around us — and change it for the better.”

    Content from our partners

    AI, the double-edged sword of creativity, and why publishers must embrace it

    AI, The Double-edged Sword of Creativity, and Why Publishers Must Embrace It

    Why Online Publishers Need a VPN: Protecting Data, Sources, and Revenue

    Why Online Publishers Need a VPN: Protecting Data, Sources, and Revenue

    Audience management’s Goldilocks problem (2)

    Audience management’s Goldilocks problem: how publishers get caught between tech that doesn’t work, or is too complex to use

    Editor's Picks
    What Is a Content Creator The What, Why and How of the Creator Economy
    Content Strategy

    What Is a Content Creator?

    Best Email Newsletter Platforms for Publishers
    Digital Platforms & Tools

    8 Best Email Newsletter Platforms for Publishers in 2024

    Google News SEO
    SEO

    Google News SEO Guide 2024: Best Practices for News Publishers

    Related Posts

    • What Is a Supply Side Platform (SSP) A Guide for Publishers
      What Is a Supply Side Platform (SSP)? A Guide for Publishers
    • A laptop computer sitting on top of a wooden table
      What Is a Demand Side Platform (DSP)?
    • What Is Programmatic Advertising
      What Is Programmatic Advertising? A Guide for Publishers
    SODP logo

    State of Digital Publishing is creating a new publication and community for digital media and publishing professionals, in new media and technology.

    • Top tools
    • SEO for publishers
    • Privacy policy
    • Editorial policy
    • Sitemap
    • Search by company
    Facebook X-twitter Slack Linkedin

    STATE OF DIGITAL PUBLISHING – COPYRIGHT 2025

    2nd Annual

    Monetization Week

    The Convergence of Innovation and Strategy: Publisher Monetization in 2025.

    A 5-day online event exploring the future of publisher revenue models.

    May 19 – 23, 2025

    Online Event

    Learn More