A starry sky over Acadia National Park in Maine
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2019/11/downfall-local-media
Ok, bear with me, here. It’s Black Friday going through Cyber Monday and then on to Giving Tuesday, and here’s the part where I’m supposed to write a post advertising my calendars or my stunning images on my website (which is still a work in progress with cleanup and keywording). I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m using this post to advertise daily news about our national parks (of which I am a part and for which I volunteer my writing and photos).
If you’ve ever read any of my photo articles on the National Parks Traveler (www.nationalparkstraveler.org), maybe you’ve also taken a gander around the rest of that site and listened to one of the podcasts or read about things to do and see in national parks, book reviews, op-eds, and daily news items about national parks all over the U.S. and in some cases, in other parts of the world. Not every mainstream news outlet does that, and definitely not on a daily basis. Usually, CNN, the Washington Post, and the New York Times (to name a few) do that only with BIG news items or sensational stories. They don’t bother with letting you know about where you can make comments on something that might affect a national park near you or one you are planning to visit, and they definitely don’t go into any great detail. Heck, some of those big outlets even used the National Parks Traveler’s reporting to flesh out their stories (think about the Joshua Tree incidents during the last government shutdown).
The Traveler and it’s founder are award winners. Most recently, the Traveler received the Western National Parks Association (WNPA) Steward L. Udall Award for “work … carrying the park message to popular audiences and rallying broad support for the parks.” That’s a big deal and a big honor.
You’re getting that news for free – no subscription fee or paywall. And I’m sure you believe anything you read on the internet should be free, right? But there are hidden costs to providing you with national parks news: website maintenance, travel costs, gear costs, having to hire some journalists and photographers on commission in places that I and the other volunteer staff cannot get to. Really, there is only one full-time staffer for the Traveler, and that’s the founder and editor-in-chief himself.
If you want to continue reading daily news about our national parks and other protected lands, as well as all the other interesting items I mentioned above, then please consider making a donation. The Traveler is a non-profit organization so it’s tax-deductible. Heck, I donated to the Traveler and I write for the Traveler! That should tell you right there how much I believe in an organization for which I volunteer my time, writing, and imagery. And, you can donate any amount, from $5.00 on upwards, and you can make it a monthly donation, if you want. So, if you donate $5.00 per month, you’ve made a $60 donation over the course of a year. And believe me, every bit counts!
Think about it, anyway. I know there are tons of organizations that can use donations. Just include the Traveler in that list. And, thanks for reading this and thanks for any donation you make.
Where The Trails Take You Photography 
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