Your trusted source for community news
Beginning Jan. 1, The Branch Herald will remove its paywall.
That decision did not come easily, and it was not made because local journalism has become cheaper, easier or less necessary. It was made because we believe access to community news matters. Everyone should be able to read about their schools, their city councils, their neighbors and the decisions shaping daily life in Farmers Branch, Addison, and Carrollton.
Access, however, does not mean free to produce.
Every story we publish requires reporting, editing, fact-checking and time. Covering city council and school board meetings, business openings, student achievements and community events takes real work by real people who live here and care deeply about getting it right.
Until now, subscriptions have helped make that work possible. As we remove the paywall, your financial support becomes more important, not less.
If you are currently a subscriber, I want to start by saying thank you.
Anyone who has purchased an annual subscription will automatically be recognized as a Founding Member of the Herald. Your current subscription will continue through its existing term, and no action is required on your part.
That designation matters to us.
Founding Members are the people who chose to support this newsroom before it was easy, before access was universal and before we knew exactly what the future would look like. You believed in the value of local journalism early, and that support helped keep this publication alive and growing.
In January, Founding Members will be invited to opt in to public recognition on a special page honoring those who helped build The Branch Herald in its early years. Founding Members will also receive early invitations to events and updates on additional benefits as they are introduced.
If you are a current subscriber whose term is ending soon, I am asking you to renew.
Not out of obligation, but out of belief.
Belief that local journalism matters. Belief that an informed community is stronger. Belief that having a locally owned newsroom focused on this area is worth sustaining.
If you have ever shared one of our stories, referenced an article in a meeting, or learned something new about your city because of our reporting, you already understand the value of what we do.
If you have never subscribed, I am asking you to consider starting now.
Think of it less as paying for access and more as supporting something you want to exist. The Branch Herald is not chasing national headlines or outrage-driven clicks. Our focus is right here, on the decisions, people, and moments that shape everyday life in our community.
Advertising alone cannot sustain a newsroom like this. Grants are uncertain and competitive. The most reliable support comes from readers who believe local news is worth backing financially.
This is not a corporation asking for profit. This is a local publication asking for partnership.
Removing the paywall is an act of trust. Trust that readers will recognize the value of this work and step forward to help sustain it.
If The Branch Herald has informed you, connected you to your community, or helped you better understand where you live, now is the moment to act.
Please renew your subscription if you are able. Please consider contributing financially. Please help ensure that local journalism remains strong, accessible, and rooted in this community.
Local News Matters.
Support local journalism by subscribing or donating. We depend on readers like you.
