Letter from the editor

The Cloudcroft Reader has news to share

We recently celebrated our first anniversary and are proud to have become the most widely read publication serving the greater Cloudcroft community. With 1,586 active subscribers and another 1,695 followers on Facebook, our articles routinely receive more than 2,500 views, sometimes topping 4,000. We appreciate all the support and encouragement we’ve received. It fuels us.

On the business side of our operation, I am proud to announce that senior editor Hannah Dean has joined me as an owner of the Cloudcroft Reader. This past year, she has made tremendous contributions to the Reader, and I’m delighted to have her as a business partner helping to pilot our future for years to come. Hannah is the heart of what we do.

We’ve also asked local artist and writer Drew Gaines to join us as a contributing editor. He is a talented storyteller, as witnessed by his recent piece on the High Rolls community. He’s also highly creative with video, and you should expect to see his work featured on our social media in the coming months.

A final note: the Reader will push for pledges from individuals and businesses in December. We will receive two dollars from the Santa Fe-based New Mexico Local News Fund for every dollar pledged to us in December. That 2:1 matching grant program will be the key driver for our 2025 budget. 85% of all the money we receive goes to pay Hannah and Drew and a few other contributors. The rest covers insurance and the technology that powers our emails and website. I receive an annual salary of one dollar.

Please consider supporting us in December’s drive. We are doing the reporting no one else is, and we hope you agree that the Cloudcroft community is better for our efforts. We also offer business sponsorships that enable local businesses to reach our thousands of followers and readers and make their brand stand out among the people who make Cloudcroft such a special place.

Thank you.