Art Thiel: Why Crosscut is the future of news

Join Crosscut at the Cascade level ($300-plus) to win an autographed copy of Art's new book: “Russell Wilson: Standing Tall.”
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Sportswriter Art Thiel

Join Crosscut at the Cascade level ($300-plus) to win an autographed copy of Art's new book: “Russell Wilson: Standing Tall.”

Sooner or later, most metropolitan regional newspapers are going away. Date is uncertain, fate is not. But news and newsrooms aren’t going away. The smartest are already digital, here to stay and will become more robust.

How fast the latter adjective is realized, dear reader, is up to you, in large part.

Crosscut was an early adopter in 2007, bringing fresh takes on contemporary topics via writers well-grounded in their fields and disciplines. Through the economic trauma of 2008 and every year since, Crosscut has grown broader and deeper as the way forward grows more perilous for mainstream print and broadcast news operations.

While other news organizations are burdened with legacy debts and outdated delivery systems, Crosscut doesn’t need to keep one eye on the rear view mirror. Both eyes are on journalism’s road ahead.

Doesn’t mean Crosscut can get along without help. As a nonprofit, Crosscut depends on reader support. Grants and sponsorships help, but readers who care enough about independent local/regional media that is authoritative and fearless, those are the people who can make a difference.

As a longtime Seattle sports journalist who went from print to digital, I see Crosscut as the future. To encourage you to help ensure that future, my company, Sportspress Northwest, will provide donors who give during this week (Monday-Sunday) at the Cascade level ($300-plus) an autographed copy of our latest book: “Russell Wilson: Standing Tall.”

Even if you are not a sports fan, you are likely married to, hang out with or work with a Seahawks fan who will savor this account of the most dynamic athlete to hit the Seattle sports scene since Ken Griffey Jr. Wilson’s first two years in Seattle, which ended with the city’s first Super Bowl triumph, were an astonishing compendium of feats. Sportspress NW was there with original, independent reporting and photography and has gathered all of it in one highly readable, amusing and informative book.

Be a hero to your inner — or outer — sports fan, and make yourself a community hero too by helping sustain independent journalism with a future.

Become a Crosscut member today.

  

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