Unbiased journalism and open expression are becoming scarce. In the UK, five companies now account for 80% of the regional press. Unlike like a national media landscape dominated by these minority interests, the Hastings Independent is run by volunteers from the community and for the community.

As a community newspaper, we provide training and experience in media and journalism to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access it. Apart from contributing articles, our volunteer writers have created supplements on education, art, the environment, children’s events and community projects.

At the moment our main source of income is through advertising, mainly from local, small-scale events and shops. With the help of funds raised through supplements and one-off donations, this just about covers our annual print costs.

We want to offer more to Hastings, and make the paper’s future in print more secure. So, we’d like you to sign up to become a Friend of the Hastings Independent. If you enjoy reading our paper and want to support free, independent, community-based journalism: for the price of a coffee each month, you can help us keep going. 

Help us reflect the vibrant life of Hastings, encourage community involvement and get people from different sectors talking to each other. 

To become a friend click here