No piece today, I’m afraid — just a little celebration.
October marks six months since Dispatch launched, and since you’re signed up, I thought you might like to know how it’s going.
The short answer: not so bad.
Since the start of April, we’ve published more than 50 long-form reports by 42 different authors, 22 weekend newsletters, and a handful of swiftly corrected typos.
More importantly, we’ve travelled far and wide:
Look at all those red pins!
Dispatch’s writers have reported not just from across the UK, but from across the world — from California’s national parks to Benidorm’s bars, Cornwall’s villages to Derbyshire’s OnlyFans triangle.
More importantly, our pieces have had something business people like to call impact.
As well as being followed up in the legacy press, Dispatch’s stories have been reprinted in a bunch of British and American newspapers and magazines. Editors: we are open for business.
In August, Dispatch also found itself at the centre of one of the year’s biggest media stories. Our investigation into “Margaux Blanchard” — a fake AI journalist placing fabricated stories in legacy outlets — was picked up by dozens of outlets: the BBC, The Guardian, The Washington Post, the Columbia Journalism Review, and many more.
But the most gratifying response has come from you: Dispatch’s readers. Thousands of you have become members, with many writing in to share thoughts and encouragement.
A small selection:
“A refreshing change from the dross put out by so many media outlets — I love how varied the subject matters are.” — Kate D.
“Huge congrats on achieving so much in such a short space of time.” — Harry H.
“Love your reporting!” — Margaret H.
“Yet again, the most interesting article I’ve read all week.” — Paul B.
“I can’t believe you published that.” — Jim C. (Ok, it’s unclear if he meant it in a good way.)
So, what next?
While it’s heartening to see so many red pins on the map, there’s also a lot of empty space — and a lot of stories still untold. We already have some in the pipeline, and trust me: you’ll want to stick around.
There are also bigger plans afoot, which I hope to reveal in the coming months.
Before we get there, though, Dispatch needs to grow its base of paid subscribers.
Journalism has never been lucrative, and even less so when it involves sending writers into the field to do the sort of reporting Dispatch does best.
So, if you haven’t taken out a paid subscription, please consider doing so. To put it plainly: Dispatch only works if readers like you think it’s worth paying for.
To make that decision easier, there’s an offer below — it gives you access to every piece, and gives Dispatch the best possible chance of making the most of the next six months.
If it seems like a small amount, that's because it is. But when you're running on a shoestring budget, every subscription counts.
So give it a click and buckle up. Here’s to the next six months!
Jacob