Below is an email that I just received from a few guys in Alberta and BC yesterday. They got together and pledged to donate $1,000 each if the Western Standard took down its paywall for the duration of the federal election, so voters who aren’t paying subscribers could read us over the mainstream media.
Their generosity surprised me and got me thinking. We had 2.1 million readers last month, and that was with the paywall up!
If we took the paywall down and made the Western Standard free to read — especially to Easterners — we may be able to make a real impact on informing voters.
But we rely on our paywall to cover the cost of the large number of reporters that we have working at the Western Standard. Plus, we actually hired several extra reporters to cover the campaign in places where we don’t have a permanent presence, like Ontario.
That means that taking the paywall down for the election (nearly a full month) will be expensive. But the guys in the email below who pledged $1,000 each are on to something, and I want to take them up on it.
So, if we can raise $75,000 within 24 hours, the Western Standard will be free for every Canadian for the rest of the election campaign.
We need to raise that amount quickly so that the paywall can come down, now.
I know that not everyone can afford to pitch in $1,000, but everyone can afford to do something.
If you can donate to make the Western Standard free for the rest of the election, please click here.
With 2.1 million readers in March — with the paywall up — imagine how many people we could reach if we made the Western Standard completely free for April.
I really hope we can do this.
Thank you for pitching in if you can.
Derek Fildebrandt
Publisher, President & CEO
Western Standard New Media Corp.
--------Forwarded Message--------
From: REDACTED
Subject: Donation pledge to make the Western Standard FREE during election
Date: Thursday, April 3 2025 at 7:54 AM EDT
Good morning Derek,
REDACTED here, Western Standard subscriber. I’m in full agreement with what REDACTED has said and suggested. I realize this is a big ask, but it’s tough for us to share your quality, relevant stories with the brainwashed MSM types as they think they know the story already and aren’t prepared to pay for an alternative viewpoint. They’re engaged enough however to read it if it’s free.
I too will hereby commit to a $1000 Western Standard pledge should you decide to make this incredibly generous and important contribution for Canada’s benefit. I believe your readership will grow as a result.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration.
If you have any suggestions as to how we may promote this challenge, please advise.
On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 7:17 AM REDACTED wrote:
Dear Mr. Fildebrandt:
I am a Western Standard subscriber, as are a lot of my colleagues and friends. We are all Albertans with family, friends and business associates in Eastern Canada.
One of our frustrations is getting Eastern Canadians to stop relying on the Mainstream Media like Post Media and the National TV networks for their election coverage and information.
They never hear about the Western Canadian's perspective and are totally unaware of the injustices that Western Canadians have suffered and continue to endure.
My question to you is this:
Would the Western Standard consider giving FREE access to all Western Standard stories from now to the election?
That way, guys like us could share with folks that would never spend a dime to buy their stories, which would certainly open some awareness and absolutely encourage higher readership going forward.
A major sacrifice: aka INVESTMENT that spreads true news over MSM BS, a small but important step to beat the Liberal/NDP once and for all.
I’ll pledge $1000 to the Western Standard if they do so and challenge my friends to do the same.
Thank you for considering our suggestion.
Sincerely,
REDACTED, and friends
On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 6:08 AM REDACTED wrote:
Good Morning Mr. Fildebrandt;
'I too will pledge $1000.00 for Western Standard to open their subscriptions to all Canadians free of charge till April 29/2025. This will allow all Canadians to test drive The Western Standard at NO obligation to read and hear the truth NOT shared by mainstream media about what is the most important election ever in the history of all Canadians. We must react fast to get this challenge out there and start spreading the truth. I am with REDACTED, and REDACTED on this mission to get the truth through The Western Standard exposed to all Canadians. All Canadians need your service of sharing the truth and what this country could be up against if eastern Canada has only has mainstream media to believe in.
Thanks for now.
REDACTED
