I read earlier this week about recent layoffs at this non-profit media outlet, and thought it was time to step up my game and tell others why I’m a proud member in the hopes that others will become one too.

There’s really no professional gain for me to be one; my company doesn’t have a large stable of government clients, focusing instead on business-to-business, consumer and hospitality customers. But being a member of VOSD is personal, and a news organization that I enjoy reading for a whole host of reasons. Chiefly among them are:

• I care deeply about my adopted hometown and the socioeconomic issues that we deal with as a community.
• I am very concerned that detailed, unbiased, quality investigative journalism offered by the dwindling traditional mass media outlets in San Diego and elsewhere is in short supply.
• I truly admire the fact the Voice of San Diego is a not-for-profit organization, whose founders and board of directors are driven by a love of fact-based reporting on issues that affect all of us.
• The writing is REALLY good, award-winning and some of the best in town!

With the recent ownership changes at the Union-Tribune and KGTV-TV as well as the ever presence of outside conglomerates controlling other news services in this town, I felt it was time to act. I had been a regular reader for some time, and became an active member through my annual donation about a year ago, renewing it last month.

If you feel at all the way I do on this, I encourage you to make a New Year’s resolution and become a member. Every bit counts – even $35. What’s more, the contributions are tax deductible, so give what you can.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you in advance for your support of quality journalism.