BY ANGELA JOSSY for WEEKLY VOLCANO 5/9/25
Am I proud of the work we’re doing? Absolutely.
But can I keep this up? Magic 8 Ball says, “Ask again later.” The answer is not clear at all.
I don’t want you to take this paper for granted. Every issue is a miracle in the making.
What we need is a financial bridge to get us from here to six months from now—when we’ll be eligible to apply as one of Tacoma’s official newspapers of record. Once that happens, we’ll be authorized to print legal notices, and I never thought that would be so critical to our success. But with that milestone, we’ll be able to hire more people, cover more stories, do more video reporting, expand our social media reach, and introduce Tacoma and Pierce County to the world—for all the good things!
Have you ever noticed that Tacoma only gets national attention when something horrific happens? Or that our most talented people often have to leave to get discovered?
The magic of this town is the way it gives people a safe place to test-drive their dreams. I want to create a bridge so they can take those experiences to the next level. Weekly Volcano has always been a great platform for that. I want future generations to have what we had—and to modernize it so it’s sustainable for the future.
So how do we build that bridge?
In the short term, more ad sales would help. If local businesses rallied around this, it would make a huge difference.
We also introduced a Citizen Sponsor program called Growth Engine, where we mail the paper to paying members once a month. But now that we’re printing weekly, that program needs to be retooled. I need a more economical way to deliver it and still make the numbers pencil out for the same monthly fee. (Working on that.)
I’ve tried hiring salespeople to help with outreach, but I haven’t yet found the right fit. It’s not a hard sell—Weekly Volcano is beloved, and our readers genuinely want to support the businesses that support us. Our advertisers enjoy far more visibility than businesses posting over and over to the same social media followers, only to get shadowbanned by algorithms that demand “pay to play” and rarely deliver.
And the message we carry—to shop local—has never been more important.
But I can’t offer a base salary to a salesperson right now—only commission. I need someone who can bring in revenue to help earn that paycheck. So for now, I’m doing it myself.
And printing weekly? It’s about 400% more work than it was monthly. We struck a sweet deal with our new printer, but it still costs more, and I also have to pay our behind-the-scenes contractors and cover admin costs. I’ll be honest—I’m struggling to keep up.
That’s why I’m introducing something new: section sponsorships. In the future, we may only publish the sections that are sponsored. So if you love the music section, the art section, recreation, wellness, food, features, the financial section, or the Happy Friday News Briefs—reach out. Let’s talk. If there’s something we’re not covering that you think matters—let’s talk about that too.
This is our community’s paper. It’s not just up to me to keep it going. It’s up to all of us to decide whether this is worth the cost or not.
I could move to Portugal and live by the sea instead!
But I’m hanging in here with you, because I think it’s worth it.
I’m also excited about our new app, our little news show, and getting to meet all the new journalists, artists, musicians, and business owners. I never get tired of meeting people who defy the odds and make things happen in this city.
You gotta hand it to Tacoma—if nothing else, we are resilient. And that spirit inspired me to become the person I am today. I’ve met so many incredible people who shaped my perspective when I needed it most, and that’s what keeps me excited to publish these stories.
You never know who needs that little spark of inspiration.
You never know where the seeds we’re planting will grow.
You never know what kind of positive ripples we might be contributing to the fabric of our reality.
That’s what these pages are for. These ideas unite us, inspire us, and give us hope—even in dark times. No matter what happens in the world, we have each other. And I hope Weekly Volcano is still something we can all rally around—now and for years to come.
If you believe in this too, become an ambassador for our cause. Help us spread the word to local businesses. Suggest story ideas. Write for us. Create content for social media.
I wish this wasn’t all about money—but once we become a newspaper of record, the hustle for survival becomes a lot less urgent.
You’ve seen what we can do without proper funding—
Wait until you see what happens when we have it.
