The Field Notes Press Kickstarter campaign is ending.

As the deadline approaches for our Kickstarter campaign, it has become apparent that it being fully funded is mathematically impossible, given the level of support that’s come so far. Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform: if the total goal isn't reached, the campaign ends with no funds being distributed.

Rather than let it wither on the vine for a few more days, it makes more sense to call it, and focus energy on continuing to move forward. Always forward.

Just because this campaign was not successful, it does not mean that the work is going to end. Field Notes Press will continue to build, continue to report, and continue to forge a new way forward! In fact, here are the most recent developments: 

- Veteran photojournalist Chris Alo has joined as a contributor;

- It was determined that Patreon was not going to provide the flexibility needed for future plans, so a new site was launched today with new infrastructure at https://fieldnotespress.com;

- Given the importance of the flow of information in this moment, it was decided that revenue through paywalls is not how Field Notes Press should operate. All content is available for free on the new platform, and paid members who joined Patreon have been refunded;

- A statement of editorial and ethical principles for the outlet has been established: https://fieldnotespress.com/standards-ethics/

And finally, We have a mission statement that gives us guidance and direction on how we will report into the future:

Field Notes Press exists to bear witness.

We go to the places that are easy to ignore — the flooded hollers, the police lines, the occupied streets — and we report what we find there. Our journalism is visual, on the ground, and direct. We don't summarize from a distance. We show up.

We are funded entirely by our readers. No corporate sponsors. No advertising. That independence isn't a business model — it's a prerequisite for the journalism we do.

Even as this campaign ends, I want to thank you from the very bottom of my heart for your pledges of support; you truly cannot understand how much it has meant to me that you believed in this project — and me — enough to pledge your hard-earned money.

If any of you still want to make a direct contribution of support, albeit without the structured tiers and rewards that accompanied the Kickstarter campaign, you can do so on the Field Notes Press web site at https://fieldnotespress.com/support/

Thank you again so much, and fear not… We’re just getting started.

With love and gratitude,
Tom