We’re excited to open up membership applications for the Community News Cooperative.
The Community News Cooperative is a consumer co-op composed of readers, media workers, local businesses, advertisers, and other community members who share in the goal of building back local news in our communities and all across Canada.
After decades of corporate consolidations, layoffs of journalists, cuts to newsrooms, and local paper closures we say no more! Independent local news is a vital public service and it creates a stronger democracy.
Our work starts here in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia where we’re focused on supporting the four founding journalists of the Save Our Local News Campaign and their news co-op covering the communities of Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities. And we won’t stop until every Canadian has a community-accountable local news source!
Co-op membership is $20 and includes a one-time $10 application fee. This fee supports the operational costs of building the cooperative newspaper and we welcome additional donations as a part of our fundraising campaign.
Your $10 membership fee purchases your shares in the cooperative and provides you with voting rights at the annual general meeting. Members sign a commitment pledging their support to the principle of the freedom of the press and the integrity of independent and neutral reporting.
Co-op membership benefits!
Members may commit to monthly volunteer duties or monthly dues for a discounted rate for your local newspaper subscription. Check out our Benefits & Duties of Membership page for more information.
Ready to apply for membership? Apply to join the Community News Cooperative below.
Membership Application
Membership Levels
Your monthly subscription helps fund local news. Your benefits include:
Community Builder: $10 monthly
~ Early releases and exclusive content
~ Subscription to our monthly members newsletter
~ Save Our Local News Tote Bag (Cooperatively Made & Printed in Canada)
~ 10% discount on cooperative merchandise and event tickets
Local News Sustainer: $25 monthly
~ All of the previous perks and:
~ Limited edition annual print by a local News illustrator!
~ Save Our Local News T-Shirt (Made in Canada)
~ And one day, a printed paper delivered right to your door*
Co-op Champion: $100 monthly
~ All of the previous perks and:
~ Lunch with a Save Our Local News journalist for you and a friend after two months of your subscription!
~ A free ticket to our annual co-op champions event: Stories from the Field!
*Printed paper home delivery is a part of our future hopes and dreams! We are currently investigating different distribution models including delivery by Canada Post, an electric scooter brigade, vintage-news delivery trucks, or maybe flying delivery drones?
We will need a density of subscribers in each neighbourhood to make this a reality so the best way to help make this happen is to donate, join our Local News Community Action Team, and sign up your neighbours!