BY TOM COCHRUN
Since 2020, Cambrians and North Coast residents have read the cambriaca to learn the latest news of local government, organizations, churches, clubs, and to stay current with community activity and life thanks to the vision and support of John Rohrbaugh.
What John called an “experiment in community journalism” launched in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic has grown to become a vital information source and link. We lost John recently and we now enter a new chapter in the life of his gift to Cambria.
In the first three years the publication and distribution of the cambriaca was funded by John and partner Kris Fox. When John approached me to help shape his dream, he insisted that we not compete with local news media, not seek funding that would otherwise go to local non-profit or charitable groups, and not seek advertising. the cambriaca included those in our Editorial Board Policies and Principles.
Kris will now become the publisher of the cambriaca, and the editorial advisory board will continue its volunteer work to gather, report, and sustain John’s vision of an on-line community bulletin board and news source. But now we ask for support.
Publication and productions costs, like most things in our lives, have increased. Last year John, Kris, web designer Juli Amodei and the editorial advisory board made production changes and streamlined workflow to lower costs. Even then it was fully underwritten by John and Kris. That is no longer possible. To sustain this publication, we ask you as readers to make a charitable contribution.
Our yearly costs to post the issues run to approximately ten thousand dollars. We think enough of our Cambria and North Coast friends and residents benefit from this hyper-local community information that we will go forward with publication, underwritten by your generosity. That is our goal.
People have asked “why not accept advertising?” That would move us into a vastly different world of a commercial enterprise. John’s vision remains in place; a volunteer, not-for-profit community journalism project.
You have choices as to how you can contribute. You can make a one-time grant, or you can become a sustaining contributor. Below you will find the appropriate information to assist you in becoming a supporter of this project in community journalism.
John cared deeply and had expectations of community service when he launched the cambriaca. We have been beneficiaries of his imaginative vision. Now it’s our turn to keep it in service to Cambria and the North Coast.
Thank you,
Tom Cochrun
Editorial Advisor
