Frequently asked questions

Newspapers across the U.S. are struggling due to declines in advertising, drops in circulation and the availability of free content online. The El Dorado News-Times is fortunate to be locally owned and have shareholders dedicated to maintaining a robust newsroom and quality product. However, we are not immune to issues facing our industry.

Local journalism is the foundation of a healthy and vibrant community. An informed citizen is an active citizen - someone who gets involved, votes and takes pride in their community. And they trust their local newspaper to keep them informed. In order to better serve our readers and ensure the future of Union County news, we need support. 

We’ve had readers and members of the community express interest in supporting our mission. Together, we can grow community awareness and sustain journalism as an institution that is essential to the health of our community. 

We are seeking grants and donations from individuals, national and local foundations, private organizations and anyone interested in supporting and sustaining local journalism. Donors may gift one time or set up recurring donations monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

We will publish the names of donors in the newspaper, unless they opt to remain anonymous.

Through our fiscal sponsor the Union County Community Foundation, we are able to accept charitable gifts in a variety of forms, including cash, publicly traded securities, life insurance, IRA distributions, retirement assets, real state, timber or crops, and charitable gift annuities.

To celebrate the launch of the El Dorado News-Times Community Journalism Project, the first 50 donors who contribute $100 or more will become members of our Founder’s Circle. These donors’ names will be published under the Founder’s Circle header in the El Dorado News-Times and on this website. Founder’s Circle members will receive an El Dorado News Times t-shirt to show their support for local news. 

No. The El Dorado News-Times ensures reader and public trust in our community-funded journalism. The News-Times editors and reporters operate independently of our funders and maintain full editorial control over content. Funders do not have special access to newsroom staff.

Donations to the El Dorado News-Times Community Journalism Project are used exclusively for the production of local news. 

Your contributions to the Community Journalism Project will help pay for covering stories that matter the most to Union County. Donations can fund:

• Travel expenses to send reporters to places around the state and the country so they can cover stories in person instead of over the phone or by the internet

• Provide training for newsroom staff on how to collect, analyze and process vast quantities of data

• Fund new positions for specialized coverage

All contributions to the Community Journalism Project are administered by the Union County Community Foundation, a nonprofit grant making organization.

The El Dorado News-Times will provide an annual report to the UCCF that includes a description on how the grants were utilized to further community journalism in Union County. This report will also be posted on this website. If a project is funded, it will be noted at the end of each story.

This is your chance to invest in the stories that shape our great state. Please donate or commit to a monthly pledge and become a champion for community journalism!

Community Journalism Project funds are used across the newsroom to sustain and expand general operations. However, keystone funding opportunities exist for donors willing to give long-term financial support. Multi-year commitments can help fund reporters in specific areas such as arts and culture, education, health care, investigative journalism, military and sports. 

If you are interested in providing keystone funding for a multi-year position in our newsroom, please call 870-330-7559 to schedule a meeting.

Yes. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

All donations to the Community Journalism Project are administered by the Union County Community Foundation in El Dorado. Donations should be sent to:

Union County Community Foundation

P.O. Box 148

El Dorado, AR  71731

Please make checks payable to the Union County Community Foundation and write “ENT Community Journalism Project” in the memo line.

Another way you can help is becoming an El Dorado News-Times subscriber if you aren't already! Click here for info on how to subscribe.

Yes. There is no direct link to the El Dorado News-Times Community Journalism Project, but you may visit the Union County Community Foundation’s website at uccfar.org to donate one time or set up a monthly recurring donation. Be sure to select "El Dorado News-Times Community Journalism Project" from the website list as your designated fund. If you have any issues donating online, please contact UCCF directly at 870-862-8223.