Information isn't always free

At The Richmonder, we've pledged to never paywall news the community needs access to.

Reporting that news, however, can be a costly process.

Some of our most important stories require obtaining information through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, like our deep dives into the origins of the water crisis and nonprofit funding irregularities.

Journalists are fortunate to have this lever to compel governments to share information the public deserves to know. But government entities are allowed to charge for the time they spend pulling records.

FOIA fees are an expense line item that can suddenly balloon, especially when investigative stories require historical context, include multiple departments or if Richmond has another water crisis.

We count on our members to keep our reporting free.

If you've enjoyed The Richmonder, please join the 1,000+ readers who keep our reporting free to all, and fund the stories that inform and hold our leaders accountable.

We appreciate your continued support as The Richmonder works to elevate the community conversation.

P.S. — Our members get exclusive opportunities that aren't available to the public. We'll have a behind-the-scenes Zoom call with our reporters in July. Join now!