The Daily Californian continues producing weekly print paper

The coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a series of realities that have necessitated change in the way The Daily Californian functions, but we are still committed to our role as the paper of record for campus and the city of Berkeley. 

Since shelter-in-place orders were enacted and remote instruction began, we stopped printing our Monday, Tuesday and Friday papers. The Daily Cal will continue to print one paper per week on Thursdays. 

Our student team will continue to work virtually and produce online content, including critical coronavirus updates. As a community publication, it is our mission to cover local news while providing a training ground for student journalists. In a semester of online learning, new hires will continue to get working experience in roles ranging from illustrator and news reporter to account executive and marketing associate.

Like many other publications, the Daily Cal is struggling to maintain financial stability due to a sharp decline in advertising revenue. We have pursued aid through many different avenues and will continue to explore all our options. In the interest of transparency, here are the monies we have received so far: 

Paycheck Protection Program – $59,197

Google News Initiative Journalism Emergency Relief Fund – $30,000

Economic Injury Disaster Loan – $10,000

Berkeley Relief Grant – $2,500

Small Business Administration Loan – $149,900 

INK Initiative student fee escalator: 25-cent increase 

However, this is still not enough to balance our budget, and we must rely on donations to fill the gap. After nearly 150 years of service to Berkeley and almost 50 years of independence from campus, the future of our newsroom is at stake, and with it, the education of future generations of journalists. As an independent student paper, support from our readers and community is essential to maintaining the quality of our coverage. 

If you would like to support the Daily Cal, please consider tuning in to Daily Cal Live on Crowdcast or donating here. We appreciate the patience from our audience as we navigate these turbulent times. 

Sarah Harris is the editor in chief and president. Contact her at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @sharris_DC.