The story of independent local newspapers going out of business in recent years is certainly nothing new and it looks like another example of this is happening in Greensboro: Triad City Beat, a left-leaning newspaper that has covered the Triad for over a decade, has lost its long-time editor and is now asking its readers for financial support in order to continue publishing.

“We’re here today to be transparent and honest with you about how things are going here,” a Facebook post from the newspaper reads this week. “As a grassroots, scrappy independent paper, we’re going through big changes. Brian Clarey, our longtime founder and publisher, will be leaving Triad City Beat in January. In addition to that, we’re facing financial difficulties that may keep us from being able to continue operating next year. And so we’re asking for support.”

Triad City Beat has taken some very unfair swipes at the Rhino Times over the years but it has also broken some real news stories and often included some interesting local human-interest content and editorials. The alt-left newspaper has also given all candidates a chance to voice their opinions in election years as part of its election guide.

However, providing local news is expensive and time consuming, and Triad City Beat is now making it crystal clear to its readers that it may not exist much longer – despite the fact that, as they note, “Local news is important.”
It is no secret that the News and Record has also been under tremendous strain over the last decade. For instance, the News and Record used to have a reporter at virtually every Guilford County commissioners’ meeting and work session, and now it is a real rarity to find a News and Record reporter at either of those events.

Also, the number of News and Record subscribers has been dropping; the paper stopped paying to run its most popular comic strips and the list of local stories has been shrinking with the paper getting thinner and the hole left by local content being filled by reprinting national wire stories.

Triad City Beat leadership points this death or local newspapers trend out as it fights for its life.
“As other local outlets dwindle or disappear altogether, the information divide widens, partisanship grows and misinformation runs rampant. And with another Trump term on the way, robust local news is going to be paramount. And it’s not just about politics.”

The plea from the struggling local Triad City Beat newspaper goes on to note that the paper covers subjects related to diversity, equity and issues important to the LGBTQ+ community.
The public damage report from the paper notes that its writers have always been underpaid and has always been more of a “passion project than a moneymaker.”

“We love this paper and have sacrificed financial stability to keep this thing going. But we are at a crossroads and need more help,” the statement reads.

City Beat is looking to raise $20,000 by the end of January to help continue operations.
“This paper is important to us and we love what we do,” it states.

In a Sunday, Dec. 21 social media post, Clarey announced that he was leaving the paper he helped create.
“I have put TCB’s needs ahead of my own, and those of my family, for a long time. And I cannot do it anymore.”
The news business has changed. My life has changed. And now I must change too.”

He praised the work of Eric Ginsburg, Jordan Green, Michaela A. Ratliff and other staff, including Sayaka Matsuoka, who’s currently working to keep the paper going.
Clarey asked the community to support the newspaper.

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