The Texas Observer’s Editor-In-Chief, Gabriel Arana, appeared on Politics Done Right on KPFT to discuss their board, The Texas Democracy Foundation intent on closing them down.
Gabriel Arana on The Texas Observer Closure
The Texas Observer, the Progressive bastion of Texas, is set to close in the next few days. That is a travesty. In a state dominated by political liars and a timid mainstream media, there are not many places where one can get the unadulterated truth.
The Texas Observer reported the following.
The Texas Democracy Foundation, the nonprofit parent of the Texas Observer, told its staff Monday that it is laying off employees—including journalists and editors—and ceasing publication on Friday, March 31, 2023.
A Go Fund Me was established so that readers and supporters of the Observer can give a lifeline to staff and journalists. …
What does the Observer mean to its journalists and to Texans? Editorial independence and journalistic freedom have been the hallmarks of the Observer since its founding in 1954. The publication has been freer—less encumbered by the demands of business, advertisers and grantmakers—than any other publication of its stature. As such, the institution has been a proving ground for countless journalists over the years and continuing to this day, and a vital watchdog to extremists, corporations and politicians who would harm Texas and Texans.
Will you help save the staff of the Observer by contributing now?
Gabriel Arana called into our Politics Done Right program to detail the great absurdity. He said the staff was blindsided by their board, the Texas Democracy Foundation. The Texas Tribune informed many of the staff before the staff was informed by the board. That was the height of disrespect and disregard. But their fundraiser is doing very well.
According to Gabriel, they gave the board an ultimatum. He expects the board to respond shortly. Given the fundraiser’s performance, we can expect success.
While Right-Wing publications are well funded from the deep pockets of corporatocracy, Progressive magazines and other online publications are funded by you. Let’s make sure to support them all. We seed the internet to ensure the well-funded Right Wing propaganda does not outstrip the truth.