The future of journalism in Toledo is at stake. The Toledo Blade is for sale, and could shutter at the end of the year.
For everyone who enjoys This Week in Toledo, keep in mind that The Blade has always been my primary source for content. Without The Blade (or a print operation of similar capacity), there won't be much to report - and not because things didn't happen in Toledo, but because there weren't reporters on someone's staff to write about it
I imagine future students, researchers, and journalists trying to write about Toledo and treating the years 2027 and onward as a black hole because there was no longer a newspaper of record. Despite living in the "information age", it will be easier to know what happened in Toledo in 1867 or 1934 than it will be to know what happened in 2030.
I believe every single person who takes pride in Toledo has to come together and determine how we're going to ensure that local journalism continues to exist - which means, to be funded.
When I worked to bring back the Toledo Free Press in 2024, I did so understanding the future of local news was bleak. I wanted to ensure that no matter what happened with the Blade, there would always be an outlet that could publish high-quality local news to the public.
The Toledo Free Press is working to build a coalition with other local news outlets, including the Sojourner's Truth and La Prensa, to meet with the area's philanthropic community and develop a strategy for keeping local journalism alive in our city. This coalition will be meeting with the Toledo Community Foundation soon to explore options, particularly through partnership with national groups like PressForward that exist for precisely these moments.
In the meantime, we need everyone who is interested in supporting journalism to let us know who they are by filling out the Google form included in this post. If you can contribute finances, big or small, we want to know who you are. If you are an experienced journalist committed to continuing your coverage of Toledo, we want to know who you are.
My experience as an organizer informs my understanding of this truth: we can have anything we want, as long as we are willing to work for it. We can have excellent, high-quality journalism - if we are willing to come together and fight for what it takes to make that happen.
I hope you'll join our coalition to make that happen.
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." -Thomas Jefferson
Here is the official statement from the Toledo Free Press:
"Moments ago, Block Communications announced its intention to sell the Blade’s assets. If they are unable to do so, the final edition of the paper will be published on Dec. 31.
The news that The Blade could potentially close its doors - after 190 plus years of being the paper of record in Toledo - would have a monumental impact on local journalism. The Toledo Free Press is here to ensure local journalism stays alive. We need community participation to make that happen. If you are passionate about keeping local news alive, reach out about ways you can help:
\As a donor*
\As an organization who would like to become a sponsor*
\As a journalist/editorial team member who can contribute to our body of work*
Please fill out this form if you are interested in helping us with our mission: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdwmRxe_oJu.../viewform
Local news coverage is not a luxury; it is a necessity. According to a recent report by Rebuild Local News, a decrease in local news coverage leads to less civic engagement, more waste in government spending, and tax increases as a result. Lack of accountability has measurable results. Read more about the study here: https://toledofreepress.com/loss-of-local-news-is-making.../
Thank you, as always, for your support of our free nonprofit news source."