Hello Londoners! This is going out to all subscribers to London Ontario Online News (The Loon), paid or otherwise, as we celebrate our launch. It’s a quick update and a guide on what’s next. Thanks for taking a look!
This is your local, independent media outlet, made up of five committed locals with stories to tell. We send out new content every day, and it’s all local and curated for you. It was free until now, and some of it will remain free as we go along (watch us learn on the hoof there). And, it takes resources to produce, so…
Today we’re asking for your support. Our goal is to establish and stabilize our start-up with paid subscriptions (and other revenue sources - sponsorships are incoming), starting now. This secures our first version of The Loon, and lets us plan our next steps as a group.
Here’s how you can get involved:
A Paid Subscription costs $10 per month, with a special rate of $100 for a year. (Some folks pledging very early may have caught a slightly lower rate, which we had to adjust manually - thanks, Substack.) It’s supposed to be offering seven-day trials, too.
You can also take out a Founding Members Subscription at $240. This supports us further and earns you our gratitude, plus a warm feeling that you are helping us to make this happen. We’ll keep your name on a list and make sure to stay in touch with you as our key supporters. Thank you to everybody doing that already!
If you’re a group of four or more, you can get a discount of 10% on your subscription. And we’d love for groups to chat with us, so we can discuss how we work together in the public interest.
And here’s how you can contact us:
London Ontario Online News (The Loon), is a media outlet established as a for-profit corporation and founded as a social enterprise. You can email us at LondonOntarioOnlineNews@gmail.com and contact any of our group of five (although we’re now trying to channel conversations through this company email because it’s been a lot recently).
The London Ontario Online News lineup
New content every day - for paid subscribers
Monday: The Buckle Up podcast with former mayor Matt Brown and a special co-host setting up your week.
Tuesday: City Editor Cedric Richards tours London’s 14 wards by bicycle, finding stories to tell.
Wednesday: Mike Donachie provides the Executive Briefing For Informed Citizens, with issues, decisions and discussions shaping local government.
Thursday: Culture Editor Diana Tamblyn shares news, perspectives and stories from London’s creative community.
Friday: Opinions Editor Steve, retired non-profit leader and video blogger, with views on the week we’ve had.
New posts every week - for free subscribers
Free on Fridays: the ROUNDUP, briefing you on the stories you need to know, gathered in one place. Regular analysis of the issues affecting London and the region.
How exciting
Thank you so much for any support you can provide. This is a big moment in our viability test, and its relative success will decide our next steps. Please tell your friends, too, and consider including us in any newsletters you may send out. This is your moment to support, as we’ve discussed so often in recent months.
Thanks for reading London Ontario Online News (The Loon). This makes you a community leader. And stick with us - there’s much more to come1.
- Mike Donachie
About London Ontario Online News (The Loon)
As local news becomes harder to find, staying informed about the issues that affect our London community has never been more important, or more challenging.
London Ontario Online News (The Loon) was created to help fill that gap. We’ve brought together some of the city’s most experienced journalists, commentators, and community voices to deliver fresh content each weekday. Through podcasts, articles, video features, and in-depth analysis, The Loon covers the civic decisions, local issues, arts and culture, and community stories that matter most.
A subscription to The Loon does more than keep you informed — it helps support independent local journalism, strengthens civic engagement, and ensures important community stories continue to be told.
Support local news. Stay informed. Subscribe to The Loon.
including footnotes