For the first time in five years, the Asheville Global Report hit the streets a day late. There was some hell to pay at the office. After two hundred and sixty nine issues “Wednesday” (as he is now affectionately known) brought the paper to the printer late, and issue #269 was free on Friday, not meeting our “free every Thursday” schedule. We apologize for the delay.

For those readers who are new to the AGR, it could be noted that we are an all-volunteer organization. We could very well use that as an excuse. But too often grassroots volunteer organizations are painted as flighty, irresponsible, romanticized efforts that are doomed from the start, and could not possibly change the world — let alone be on time.

So we refuse to rest on that excuse, because the latter is not true. In the past 5 years the AGR has redefined the benchmark of excellence in the world of independent news reporting. Dozens of projects use the AGR as a model for challenging corporate media’s stranglehold on the American worldview.

We have garnered seven Project Censored awards in the last two years for our efforts in reporting news unreported and underreported by the mainstream corporate media ­- putting us as the leader in such reporting, over sources like the Nation, the Progressive, Utne, Mother Jones, and the London Guardian (for whom we have the deepest respect).

We go to great lengths to give our readers the very best quality of hard news without too much analysis and editorializing. In order to deliver the news left out by the corporate mass media, we comb through thousands of news stories each week. Our style of weekly news compilations allows us to explore news in depth, and with the context and background necessary to understand the events and decisions that shape our world.

And though we, the staff and editors who assemble the AGR each week, have invested roughly 160 hours a week for the last five years (that is roughly 43,040 hours by issue #269) to make this possible, it is you, our readers, who have kept this effort alive.

Since our fall fund drive the AGR has continued to thrive. We have added a political cartoon to the commentary section, and made layout changes to enhance the AGR’s appearance. In addition we have become a truly regional paper adding distribution points in Boone, Black Mountain, Mars Hill, and Weaverville, while expanding our circulation in Asheville and at area colleges. This Winter we launched a half hour radio news show which airs weekdays on WPVM FM (103.7) and FRA FM(107.5) that touches upon some of the news that the AGR readers enjoy in greater length.

With your help we can continue to grow.

Though we receive some revenue from advertising, our advertising is limited to small business and community groups. You will not see a prominently displayed ad for the new Starbucks in the AGR. But, in order to remain free from the influence of large corporate interests, it is you, the reader, that must sustain our efforts.

Each year, two times a year, we specifically ask (get down on our knees and beg) our readers, subscribers, and now listeners to sustain our efforts, so please take a moment and reflect upon what the AGR means to you.

Of these two fund drives it is traditionally our Spring find drive that carries us through the year. While their have been some over the years that have been very generous in sustaining the AGR the success of our fund drives have mainly come from people able to give ten or twenty bucks. Even if you are unable to contribute money this Spring, please let us know you care.

Tell a friend about the paper. Ask a business to distribute the AGR or advertise with us. Get your mom a subscription to the AGR for her birthday.

Though the finances of the AGR have allowed us to print consistently we have never been in the financial position to realize our full ambitions for the paper. We would like to generate more original reporting from abroad and in the region, to enhance the web site, to be in every town in western North Carolina.

For five years this effort has thrived, but it is you who will decide the future of the AGR.

Thank you,

The AGR Ediorial Collective