A cautiously optimistic update on the future of Anderson Alerts
Between your support and a new partnership launching today, Anderson Alerts is on track to remain in place through 2025. But my continued reporting is dependent on your continued support.
Hi all,
Several months ago, I warned that Anderson Alerts could soon go away. Running a one-man news operation isn’t easy, and at times, it’s been incredibly tough to justify its continued existence. But your messages of support, sharing of news tips and choice to pay for content have been enough to keep me going.
We reporters don’t get into this business to make a lot of money. We’re often left trying to keep our heads above water. I’m no exception.
In February 2023, Anderson Alerts launched with the intention of being a stopgap as I sought full-time employment. But no such opportunities to cover North Carolina politics for a nonpartisan news organization emerged. So when I was freed from an overly broad (and likely unlawful) non-compete in 2024, I decided to make Anderson Alerts a for-profit endeavor and see where it would take me. Ever since, readers like you have delivered!
When I put out a final call to action at the end of the 2024, folks brought Anderson Alerts to 99% of the funding needed for me to justify continuing into 2025. So I decided to press forward.
This news service has the potential to reach a point of sustainability, but this is truly the make or break year. So today, I wanted to share a few hopeful updates on where things now stand, what lies ahead and how you can keep Anderson Alerts going.
Reader Support: For Anderson Alerts to continue into 2026, there needs to be a doubling of paid subscriber growth by the end of the year. The good news: The past few months has kept that on track. So if Anderson Alerts continues to grow at the rate it has, I’ll be able to continue providing this news service.
How You Can Help: If you are able and you value fair, contextual, nonpartisan political journalism, please consider upgrading to a paid membership, giving a gift subscription, buying memberships for a group or taking advantage of a new referral program that rewards you for spreading the word about this Substack. Individuals may also contribute up to $200 annually through a founding membership. And if you already fall into any of these categories, please accept my sincere gratitude.
New Partnership: Today, I’m proud to announce a big step forward in my continued ability to cover the state I most love. Effective immediately, I’m anchoring The Caucus, a twice-weekly newsletter that will go out to premium subscribers of The Assembly. You can subscribe to that newsletter here and take advantage of a special three-month offer.
About The Caucus: If you are a premium subscriber to The Assembly or choose to become one, you’ll find The Caucus in your inbox on Tuesdays, when the General Assembly typically begins holding floor votes, and Fridays, to wrap things up after lawmakers leave town. (If you want real-time political news updates, analysis and in-depth journalism, my Anderson Alerts Substack will remain your best information source)
Licensing Opportunities: To help keep Anderson Alerts sustainable, expand its reach, ensure subscription rates remain untouched for the foreseeable future and maintain my commitment to keeping this service free of ads or sponsorships, I’m pleased to announce today that I’ll be accepting photo and editorial licensing requests. Some folks have expressed interest to me about this in the past. I’m now prepared to make this an option, albeit very carefully.
Make a Request: If you run a newsroom that wants to use a photo I’ve taken or share any written Anderson Alerts content with your readers, email me here with the subject line “Licensing Request.” The threshold for me granting any license will be fairly high and contingent on me retaining full editorial independence.
What you get with Anderson Alerts
I’m a workhorse; not a show horse. So I often struggle to articulate the unique value people get by subscribing to Anderson Alerts.
If you’ve been here from the start, you were the first to learn about the resignation of Auditor Beth Wood, a congressional candidate accused of an extramarital affair, House Speaker Tim Moore’s controversial appointment of a college friend and sanctioned lawyer onto a commission that disciplines lawyers, the end to a monthslong budget stalemate, state Rep. Tricia Cotham’s 2024 reelection plans, divides within Robinson’s political orbit, revelations of questionable online posts from Robinson, Trump pursuing an NDA from Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2024 election, implications of Hurricane Helene on voter turnout, outstanding votes in the Supreme Court race, a judge who wore Confederate-style uniforms at college frat parties and a familiar face eyeing a primary run against Sen. Thom Tillis.
That is to say nothing of the in-depth, revelatory candidate profiles, comprehensive analyses on redistricting, information on lawmaker absenteeism, aggressive coverage of the impacts and origins of a law exempting lawmakers from the state’s public records law, an overview of key counties and races to watch ahead of the election and a detailed tracking of the never-ending Supreme Court race.
If this inspires you to make Anderson Alerts sustainable, I reiterate how you can help:
Upgrade to a paid plan (step-by-step instructions available here)
Thank you so much for your continued support, time and engagement. Cheers to another exciting year of North Carolina political coverage!
Best,
Bryan