What It Really Takes to Keep Local News Alive

From January through mid-September, the production and delivery of the Wayland Post have cost $87,590. Every dollar has gone directly into keeping trusted, independent news flowing to the community:

$21,000 on printing, so every issue reaches homes in color.
$8,900 on postage and mailing services, to get the paper into thousands of mailboxes.
$46,000 on contract services—the reporters, editors, photographers, designers, and distributors who make the news happen.
$3,600 on insurance, ensuring the paper can operate responsibly.
$3,400 on books, subscriptions, and references, the backbone of fact-checking and responsible journalism.
$5,000 on legal and financial costs, because accuracy and accountability matter in every corner of the operation.

That’s what it takes to keep the presses running and the news flowing. On the other side of the ledger, more than $105,500 has come from 428 individuals and local businesses—neighbors who believe local news is essential. Advertising has contributed another $24,429, but it is clear: the Wayland Post exists because readers make it possible.

Yet those donors represent fewer than 10% of Wayland’s 5,000 households. The average annual household gift is approximately $250. If every household contributed at that level, the Post could raise $1.25 million annually—enough to fund a professional newsroom with investigative reporting, expanded school coverage, and regional editions serving Sudbury and Lincoln. Even if half the town gave, the newsroom could triple its reach.

Here’s how your contribution translates into impact:

$20/month ($240/year) covers printing and mailing for one household.
$42/month ($500/year) funds a whole week of local reporting.
$83/month ($1,000/year) supports the coverage of a major town committee or school board for the year.
$200/month ($2,400/year) ensures that an investigative series—such as one on water quality or town development—can be researched and published.

A handful of committed households already carry the load. Imagine what we could do if everyone joined in. Together, we can ensure Wayland has the strong, independent local journalism it deserves.