The King's Tribune - Debt Free & Flying in 2013

The King’s Tribune has been publishing since 2007. The first ever issue was a double sided A4 page we had printed at the local Officeworks. It was a newsletter for our beloved local bar, The King of Tonga.

Since then it’s gone through many iterations – you can see some of them in the video – but it’s ended up as a small but (I like to think) important part of Australia’s independent media.

Why is it important?

• because truly independent media, with no ties to advertisers or lobby groups or political parties, is rare.
• because publishers who try to pay their writers are rare.
• because thoughtful, intelligent, opinionated writers are finding it harder and harder to get published as large mainstream outlets turn to fluff and outrage to boost their hits.

The Tribune is a hairsbreadth from success. It has enough subscribers to pay the writers and printer; it CAN keep going from here.

BUT in the five years it’s taken to get it where it is now has taken a toll. A $25,000 toll. Not a lot really, in the scheme of things, most businesses need a lot more than that to get going. And we need to pay it all back by the end of the year.

I thought this would be a breeze, but life smacks you around a bit sometimes and I can’t keep the Tribune going and pay back the debt I’ve accumulated to get here.

So one of them has to go – and that’s where you come in.

Help me clear the debt. If one of these things – The Tribune or the $25,000 debt have to go, help me make sure it’s not The Tribune.

If I can reach the goal I will publish a huge celebratory issue in January 2013.

• reprint some of the best pieces from 2011/2
• a TON of new stuff.
  • New writers,
  • new styles
  • maybe some fiction this time
  • more cartoons and artwork
• perfect for your summer reading needs.

I know sometimes it’s hard to manage accountability in these projects. So, here’s where your money will go:

• $9,500 - NAB
• $12,500 - family, who lent us this in better times.
• $2,000 – Madman Printing

I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have about our funds, our magazine and this project, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.