Though the publication was often unfairly critical of the Rhino Times, the alternative far-left Greensboro publication known as Triad City Beat did have its moments of breaking real news, and, truly, the disappearance of yet one more news publication – even a far-left leaning one that could be unfair at times – is undesirable.
Over the last decade, local news outlets – and national ones as well – have been dropping like flies, and, recently, Triad City Beat Editor Sayaka Matsuoka announced that, despite a major effort to remain in operation, the newspaper would be folding at the end of February.
In a statement posted on the publication’s website, Matsuoka wrote that money-raising efforts had come up short.
The announcement comes soon after the county’s Northwest Observer, another local newspaper, announced that it was ceasing publication.
“Hi everyone,” Matsuoka began her message. “Thanks so much for your generous support of Triad City Beat these last few weeks. The outpouring of love has been so touching to see and reaffirms why and how this little paper has been able to keep going throughout the last decade.”
She added that contributions from readers had made it possible for the paper to continue through the first two months of 2025, ensuring that staffers got paid; however, then she got to the root of her message: “It is with a heavy but also grateful heart that we are announcing the official closure of Triad City Beat in February. We will put out two more print issues on February 6 and 20, but after the end of February, we will cease publication on both our website and in print. We are looking to maintain our website and keep the archives up for posterity.”
The financially troubled publication announced late in 2024 that it was on life support and the publication began asking readers for donations to generate a large enough funding stream to keep the paper alive. However, despite some donations, Matsuoka wrote that there “have been insurmountable obstacles to keeping the organization operational including lack of a business leader and inadequate future funding.”
As many Greensboro residents are aware, the co-founder and publisher of Triad City Beat, Brian Clarey, was in a very bad car accident last year. Clarey said publicly that that forced him to make some major life changes, including leaving Triad City Beat.
Clarey, who once worked for the Rhino Times, is now working full-time for UNCG.
Matsuoka wrote of Clarey in her new post, “He was tasked with making difficult life changes after a devastating car accident last year forced him to find a new job. We appreciate the years of dedicated leadership that Brian gave to this company and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
There will be a going away, “Last Anniversary Party” for the publication at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro on Friday, Feb. 28.
Matsuoka concluded, “We have loved working at this paper and have loved every minute of being able to serve you. Thank you so much for your support over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Triad City Beat was a left-leaning newspaper that covered Greensboro and the surrounding area for over a decade; however, in December, the publication posted in a Facebook note to its readers that the publication wanted to be “transparent and honest with [readers] about how things are going here.”
That post also announced that Clarey was leaving Triad City Beat in January and revealed that the publication was facing tremendous financial difficulties that could prevent the paper from keeping its doors open in 2025.
The plea from the struggling Triad City Beat noted that the paper covers subjects related to diversity, equity and issues important to the LGBTQ+ community.
City Beat was hoping to raise $20,000 by the end of January to help continue operations. It’s not clear how much money they did raise, but it is clear that it wasn’t enough.
In a Sunday, Dec. 21, 2024, social media post, Clarey announced 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,” he wrote. “The news business has changed. My life has changed. And now I must change too.”
Clarey praised the work of Eric Ginsburg, Jordan Green, Michaela A. Ratliff and other staff, including Matsuoka.
Good, pos newspaper
Imagine that…the money has come up short. I wonder why?
A dreadfully tendentious propaganda sheet… but I too mourn its demise.
Every healthy democracy needs a diverse and free press.
I saw a stack of these recently. Having never been aware of its existence, I was enthralled by the subject matter. The demise of such journalism fails to surprise.
Never read it. I guess I am not smart to understand the writing. People who read such writings are those who believe they are the smartest people in the room, which proves how really dumb they are.
They were great for my bird cage and kitty litter box. And free
The news media on the internet is trying various way to get you to “support” them, which is a term for you to give your money to them, even if they have advertisements, and to also get past the blocking software.
Guess they think asking us to “support” them is a way of saying they could care less about you or me. . . just the money they want.