Do You Value
A Free Press?
We are Friends of The Gabber, a group of like-minded individuals who believe in the value of local journalism.
We rely on The Gabber – Florida’s oldest, independent newspaper – for news and information about local politics and South Pinellas events. Without it, there would be no consistent accountability for small governments in our area.
We aim to provide support for The Gabber Newspaper through fundraising, advocacy, and education.
Because a free and independent press is a hallmark of democracy.
What are experts saying?
“The health of a democracy depends
in no small part on the vitality of an independent press.”
The Knight Foundation
“When communities lose their local news outlets, civic engagement drops, corruption rises, government waste increases and political polarization worsens.”
Sara Berman, Chief Executive, American Journalism Project
“Newspapers help root out corruption in the government . [It] is a product we consume and actually makes society slightly better off… Newspapers are doing important work for society.”
Michael Sinkinson, Yale School of Management
The absence of local newspapers “can lead to less informed communities, increased political polarization, and weaken local democracies, highlighting the urgent need to support local journalism and preserve its role in society. “
National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
“The League of Women Voters of the United States believes it is the responsibility of the government to provide support for conditions under which credible journalism can survive and thrive… The League believes the support for the viability of local news may take a variety of forms. Control of the content must remain exclusively
with the news organization.”
The League of Women Voters National Position on the Decline of
Local news and its Impact on Democracy
“Where there are no newspapers and weakened newspaper systems, government secrecy is flourishing.”
David Cuillier, Brechner Center for the First Amendment, University of Florida
Friends of The Gabber 