Anderson Alerts Changes: What's on the horizon for this newsletter in 2024
Starting Feb. 1, paid membership costs will increase to ensure this newsletter remains sustainable for the 2024 election. A new chat feature is also being rolled out to all subscribers.
Hi all,
Thank you so much for being a loyal Anderson Alerts member. With 2024 approaching, I wanted to share some updates with you on the future of this newsletter.
Most notably, starting Feb. 1, paid memberships will cost $8/month and $75/year, up from the current rates of $5/month and $50/year. So if you want to take advantage of the current pricing, please make sure to sign up by Jan. 31 to lock in the existing membership prices. An annual plan will provide maximum savings.
For unpaid members, don’t fear. This newsletter will continue to be available to you, with access to occasional weekly recaps and alert headlines. To read all Anderson Alerts in their entirety, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
And for those who want to show extra support, tell your friends to join the Anderson Alerts family or register yourself as a founding member.
Founding members get all the same benefits as paid members, but will also receive a personalized message thanking them for their support. Founding members are now able to contribute between $51 and $200 annually, up from the current maximum contribution limit of $100.
Now to the why…
When I began this Substack, I had just ended my time at a news outlet and was looking for a way to continue reporting on North Carolina politics.
Due to a non-compete clause that a former employer was unwilling to revisit, I was limited in what I could report on, which outlets I could report for and where I could do the reporting. Rather than call it quits on journalism or move elsewhere, however, I tried to turn something negative into a positive. I did so in part by starting this Substack with net proceeds go to charity.
Over the course of more than 260 posts this year, you’ve been here as I’ve analyzed redistricting data, tracked candidate filings, kept you in the loop on outstanding public records requests and broken stories ranging from lawmaker attendance to Rep. Tricia Cotham’s reelection plans to Auditor Beth Wood’s sudden resignation.
In the course of all this reporting, Anderson Alerts has gotten some traction. And it appears there’s a desire from folks for me to keep this going.
As a contentious 2024 election approaches, it’s more important than ever that folks have access to fair, balanced, contextual journalism.
So as Jan. 1 approaches, I’m happy to share that this newsletter isn’t going anywhere. But there will be some changes.
When 2024 arrives, I’ll no longer be subject to any reporting limitations. This means this Substack will transition to one that is for profit, where all proceeds will go to my continued reporting. I’ll still be active in giving to nonpartisan, apolitical charitable organizations. But the purpose of this Substack will shift to one that is more financially sustainable and allows me to continue reporting in North Carolina. There will remain two membership tiers: paid and unpaid.
Unpaid Members: Will continue to have access to occasional weekly recaps and alert headlines before hitting paywall
Paid Members: Will continue to have access to all alerts, headlines and stories in their entirety. There are no paywall limitations
With a busy election year ahead and no former employer having any ability to shape what I can report on or where I can report from, I anticipate my travel costs and reporting expenses will rise. A subscription cost increase is needed to keep this newsletter going. I’m working with Substack to ensure any increases are implemented smoothly, communicated properly and allow ample time for new and existing subscribers to update their memberships before any cost increases take effect.
Additionally, I’m rolling out a brand new feature to all members: the Anderson Alerts subscriber chat. This will be a conversation space in the Substack app. You can think of it like a group chat or live hangout. From time to time, I’ll post short prompts, story links or other political happenings that you should know about.
How to get started
STEP ONE:
To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app, which is now available for both iOS and Android devices.
Chats are sent via the app, NOT email! So no need to worry about your inbox getting flooded with messages. If you want real-time chat updates, make sure to turn on push notifications within the app.
STEP TWO:
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
STEP THREE:
You’re all set! Jump into the thread to say hello. And if you have any issues, you can check out this FAQ.
A big thank you
Thank you so much for your continued support of Anderson Alerts!
There are undoubtedly many places you can go to get your news, including sites that offer their content free of charge. You’re here because you value truth and fairness above all else, and for that, I’m sincerely grateful.
I started this Substack unaware of the reach it could have. It’s gratifying to see the messages from folks who have found this service of value.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the changes coming for 2024, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. I’ll return to your feed on Sunday morning with a recap of the year that was in North Carolina politics. And on Monday, I’ll be ringing in the new year with my first column in over six years.
Cheers to a brighter year ahead,
Bryan Anderson