July 17, 2008

Dear Common Dreamer,

I have a special offer to share with you.

If you make a donation to CommonDreams.org before July 25, we'll enter your name to win a signed copy of a book by one of the many great writers whose work you read on CommonDreams.org.

(You can also donate using our print and mail form - as long as it's postmarked by July 25).

We have more than 100 books to mail out. All have been donated - and hand-signed - by your favorite writers - Naomi Klein, Norman Solomon, Tom Engelhardt, Cindy Sheehan, Jeff Cohen and many more.

What better way to spend a hot, lazy summer afternoon than reading a book by one of your favorite progressive writers - especially when you know you're supporting our work, and theirs, by donating to the best online source of progressive news and ideas?

Now, more than ever, we need your help.

In just the last month, a number of major newspapers have announced they are cutting their news staffs:

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will cut 1,300 full-time employees;
• The Tampa Tribune is laying off 21 newsroom employees;
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal, up for sale, will slash 99 positions; and
• The Los Angeles Times will cut 250 jobs, including 150 newsroom employees. And, the paper said, it will "trim story length."

In all, more than 900 newspaper jobs slashed in just 30 days.

At a critical time in this country's history, news organizations are telling us "less is more."

But you and I know better. Fewer news reporters and shorter articles are not the answer. You can't run a decent democracy on blurbs and soundbites.

Like you, I have high hopes that the Novermber elections will bring more progressive leaders to all levels of our government.

Surely, our time has come.

But no matter who wins in November, we need more information, not less, if we're going to stay on top of events like the war in Iraq, global warming, the food crisis, domestic spying, corporate crime . . . and a host of other critical issues that threaten our constitution, our society, and our planet.

Just as many traditional news organizations are shrinking, CommonDreams.org is growing.

We're committed to giving you more. Not less.

More in-depth coverage of the daily news. More critical analysis. Greater diversity of opinions.

But we need your help.

Please donate any amount before July 25 and we'll enter your name to win a great book, hand-signed by a great writer. You can donate online or by mail.

Thank you! And have a great summer.

Sincerely,

Craig Brown
Executive Director
for the whole CommonDreams.org team

P.S.
Does your employer have a matching gifts program? Please ask! A matching gift from your employer will make your contribution twice as valuable!

Thanks!

All contributions to Common Dreams, a 501(c)(3) organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.