An FAQ on the the future of The Tico Times, and what it needs to continue as both a successful and sincere online newspaper. The Tico Times has set up an Indiegogo account accepting donations from anyone who would like to help us keep this unique voice in Central America.
Why does The Tico Times matter?
The Tico Times, founded in 1956, has long been the best source for English-language news in Costa Rica. Over the years, The Tico Times has won awards and worldwide readership for its independence in a region marked by turmoil and a weak press. Now to keep telling stories in the region, we need your help. To survive, The Tico Times needs your donations.
We began environmental reporting in the 1950s. We’ve broken stories on secret runways used by the Contras, rampant shark finning in Costa Rican waters and luxury hotels in violation of environmental law. We also covered the fun stuff: “domesticated” crocodiles, surf competitions and tales about monkeys. Oh, so many stories about monkeys. Guido Fernández, the longtime publisher of Costa Rica’s Spanish-language daily, La Nación, always credited The Tico Times with teaching the Costa Rican press investigative reporting. We have remained a unique voice in the region for more than a half-century. We don’t want that to end.
Why do we need your money?
For financial reasons, our Sept. 28, 2012 issue will be our last print edition, but that doesn’t have to be the end of The Tico Times. In coming months, the company will create new revenue models and modernize the online product, but we are going to need your help. To keep telling stories in the region, and to keep our small group of volunteers out reporting for you, we need cash. The new Tico Times will continue to go in-depth on the most important issues to our readers, and we will continue to provide the best writing and smartest analysis. We also plan to overhaul the website. We’ll listen to your concerns and suggestions about the website, and we’ll build it to better fit the needs of the reader in the 24-hour news cycle.
What’s in it for you?
You live here. You vacation here. You read us when everything is pura vida, but especially when it is not. You come to us to know how much damage the earthquake caused and to find out which politician has been featured in an online sex video. We run your photos of birds. You cringe each time you see another crazy Gringo has been gored in a bullfight. You laugh at our photos of monkeys. Oh, so many photos of monkeys. Still, we want to do an even better job of connecting with you. Now that we are focusing all of our energy on our online product, we will be able to create a more interactive community.
In addition to the daily stories that define The Tico Times’ fair, honest journalism, we also have some fabulous perks. Donate and receive copies of our 50th anniversary issue, old editions from your birth date and original photos. You also will receive the satisfaction of knowing your money has gone toward maintaining the health and sanity of our tiny staff and a small group of freelancers. Our impressive roster of journalists knows how to tell a story, and that’s why they’ve been published in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Newsday, the Arizona Republic, the Global Post and The Lancet, among others.
What’s the future of The Tico Times?
Although enormous challenges lie ahead, we believe wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com can be a part of your daily life again. It’ll be the first website you read in the morning and the last one you check at night. If you still want to see The Tico Times continue and evolve into something better than before, push the donate button. You can also contribute by getting the word out, sharing our campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. Tell your friends, family and enemies. ¡Pura vida!
Are you interested in making a donation?
Click here, and thank you for your support.
If you have any questions. Please email Editor David Boddiger at dboddiger@ticotimes.net.
