Reader check-in from your (best?) friends at SKP
Discover more from Salem-Keizer Proletariat
Reader check-in from your (best?) friends at SKP
Accountability to readers, plus new shit we’re building
Salem-Keizer Proletariat has almost doubled in subscribers over the summer and we reached 13,000 new readers from May through September with our coverage of local news..
We’re growing up! So I wanted to check in with everyone to make sure you folks know what we’ve been up to, and some places you can find SKP doing journalism stuff.
Where you can find SKP outside your inbox (or inside your outbox)?
For many, you can read Salem-Keizer Proletariat in your email inbox. If you haven’t been seeing us in your email, check your spam folder.
You can also go straight to our website (www.salemkeizer.news), where each edition of the newsletter lives.
Socials
SKP doesn’t play on every social network that exists. That would be silly. Instead, we focus on the platforms** that are more likely to reach you (and people like you). With each social account SKP runs, we try to give you something a little different. For example:
Facebook Private Group
What it is: This is a subscriber-only (free and paid subscribers) where we post new stories and deliver a little behind-the-scenes insight on what it’s like to practice the SKP style of journalism.
Why you should check it out: This is where we pull back the curtain and discuss not only the stories we write, but the efforts and resources that go into producing local journalism. We also preview pieces we’re working on from time-to-time. It’s pretty much a cool kids club 🙂
What it is: This is a public account (open to all) where SKP shares each story we publish, along with other pertinent news. Sometimes it’s just fun memes…okay, most of the time it’s fun memes.
Why you should check it out: Eh, memes are fun, right? To be honest, this Insta account is pretty new so there’s not a ton of content there.
**SKP is on Twitter, but we’re no longer active there. It’s a garbage site with garbage leadership. The only reason we’re keeping the account live is to reduce the risk that someone else might impersonate us? I guess? It’s also a great place to watch our local far-right douche bags embarrass themselves and spew disinformation and hate.
Live streaming
“Experimental local journalism with a side of video games.” That’s what we’re calling our live-streaming program on YouTube. Here’s the launch announcement from a couple months ago for additional background.
What it is: We play video games and talk shit about local news. Right now, we’re sticking with a game called “Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” on Nintendo Switch and each stream runs about an hour long. We stream live on Thursdays at 7 p.m. PT, but you can watch the recording whenever you’d like (if you can’t make it to the live stream).
Why you should check it out: We chose Zelda: TOTK because it’s a beautiful game. Even if you don’t like video games, it’s a very well-made, open-world game. And, of course, there’s the legendary commentary from SKP publisher, editor, lead writer, photographer, IT support, and snack technician..ME! And live-streaming is where I talk the most shit about local news and happenings. Heck, we might even spill some tea from time to time.
And, if you’re feeling similarly bold, you can chat with me while I livestream through YouTube’s chat feature. I’ve got a helper for my livestreams that makes sure I don’t ignore chat (whoops!).
****WE’RE LIVESTREAMING TONIGHT! Tune in at 7 p.m. tonight here.****
Biggest Stories of 2023 so far…
For those that support SKP with paid subscriptions, here’s what your $5/month helped produce so far in 2023. These are just the top ten in terms of views, but we’ve published 91 stories this year (so far). Thanks! And read anything on this list you might have missed. They are all 100% certified Grade-A bangers.
Community shines light on sexual abuse charges against Salem business owner (3,960 views; published in April 2023)
After calls for violence, progressive Salem businesses harassed by armed man (3,810 views, published in August 2023)
Oregon Right to Life hosts Nazis at annual demonstration (2,800 views; published in January 2023)
Beloved local llama becomes target in right-wing culture war (1,820 views; published in July 2023)
Defense fund for “Oregon 13” is broke (1,690 views; published in August 2023)
Meet the guy working tirelessly to install far-right candidates on local school boards (1,390 views; published in May 2023)
When Democrats do it, it’s corruption. When Oregon GOP Leadership does it, it’s sparkling grift (1,360 views; published in May 2023)
Gilbert House Children’s Museum Staff Walk Out Over “Hostile, Abusive” Conditions (1,300 views; published in April 2023)
Addressing Youth Suicide Goes Sideways in Keizer (1,250 views; published in June 2023)
Verda Crossing Apartments in Keizer aren’t exactly affordable (1,250 views; published September 2023)
In the works from SKP…
In addition to our suite of data-based tools & resources (most recently including the Oregon Union Tracker), we have a new project that’s still in development.
We don’t have a name for it yet, but the goal is to take recordings of local meetings and make them more accessible to a wider audience. Few people have the time to watch an entire multi-hour meeting, much less actually attend them. So we have an idea to make it all more…digestible.
Stay tuned for the launch of this yet-to-named project - likely ready in late October.
Thank you so much for reading. And let’s continue kicking ass in 2024.