Dear Reader,

The best journalism is about community. It’s about shining a light on neighborhoods, what makes them special and how we can help them.

When I came to the Fort Worth Report, it was to be part of something that is changing local journalism. Our best work looks at how decisions directly impact the communities we live in and report on.

That is why my favorite story I wrote in 2021 is Fort Worth approves Hemphill housing complex despite some residents’ concerns about gentrification. It would have been easy to just cover the City Council meeting and report the decision. But what made this story special is the voices of those in the community whose lives will be changed by this decision.

Local journalism for the people and about the people - that’s what we’re about. And today, I’m asking you to be a part of this solution.

As a nonprofit newsroom, we’re supported solely by donations. Through Friday, in our year-end campaign, your gift will be doubled!  

While reporting the piece about the Hemphill corridor, I met many people who are fighting for their neighborhood, with fierce determination and out of care for their neighbors. I spoke with business owners, the city, and the developers, all to tell a story with many layers about a neighborhood that is worried about disappearing and is fighting back.

This is the journalism I’ve always dreamed of doing — telling stories about community for community. It’s why the work at the Fort Worth Report is so important, and I can’t wait to do more in 2022.

In gratitude,

Kristen Barton
Enterprise Journalist