for BigTrial.net
Effective today, Big Trial's moving to substack.com.
Why? Since Big Trial lost its sponsor seven years ago, I've been doing this blog pro bono.
And every year, not only has the workload steadily increased, but in my opinion, so has the need for this type of reporting.
Using the courts as a base of operations, Big Trial provides an independent voice in the local media by doing some essential muckraking, asking the tough questions, and always insisting on holding public officials accountable.
It's become indispensable journalism, I would argue, in a city that for the past two years has been setting historic records for shootings, murders and carjackings. City Council members who are still afraid to meet in public -- they only meet on Zoom -- openly admit that Philadelphia has descended into a state of lawlessness. And become a place where every day, armed and violent criminals brazenly go about their business, with no fear of consequences.
Against this desperate backdrop, our only daily newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, where I once worked, continues to function as the official house organ of the Democratic Party that's controlled City Hall for the past 70 years, while shilling for the "progressive" leaders who have run Philadelphia into the ground.
At Big Trial, we do things differently. We aren't PC, we don't suffer fools gladly, and we don't believe in sacred cows.
What does the move to Substack mean for readers? Instead of getting Big Trial for free, now you'll have to pay $5 a month, which at Subbstack, is their lowest subscription rate. I hate having to ask people for money, but in a city that's in crisis, it's the cost to preserve independent journalism.
So consider this my invitation to readers to follow me over to Substack, where we'll continue to shine a bright light on the dark place that Philadelphia has become.
Good move. Good luck
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul.
DeleteYou deserve to earn a living, I'm in.
ReplyDeleteAs a former Philadelphia prosecutor and as someone who remains involved in the criminal justice system, I can’t imagine not reading big trial. May I ask if you plan to increase the frequency of your postings once you move to a paid platform? Will I be subscribing to read one article a week? Three? Either way, it’s money well spent and I truly appreciate your hard work!
ReplyDeleteI think we've averaged two or three posts a week for quite some time. I do have some high hopes for expanding the operation, but first things first, which is getting it off the ground. Thanks for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteI'm in.
DeleteI'll be there, RC. Being curious, i'm wondering if the/your comment section will be freestyle as it has been since i've been reading, or will there be a buffer, or something similar to Disqus? I've immensely enjoyed your reporting and the brutally honest responses that they've produced. Just being curious, RC. I'll be joining Substack momentarily. Best wishes, Stude.
DeleteI plan to keep it free flowing.
Delete@Stude, I participate in several Substack columnists' posts and things are generally free-flowing.
DeleteAny way to still post a condensed/cliff notes version of articles for free? It's important that this vital info gets out to the general Philadelphia public so that people are made aware of the truth. That's much harder to do behind a paywall, even though I would support you.
ReplyDeleteWill your articles be deleted from this site ?
ReplyDeleteAt some point, this site will just bounce people over to Substack.
DeleteCongrats and good move, thank you for all you do with the reporting. Did not know that you were doing this pro bono, but agree, the reporting is needed in the city where everything is too one sided. Good luck Ralph!
ReplyDeleteRalph, your unflinching coverage of Philadelphia’s dishonest and disastrously dysfunctional city government has been indispensable. It will be my pleasure to follow you to Sub Stack. Best wishes for great success.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good reader base and by the comments posted herein, I would consider asking the FOP first to see if they would donate to keep Bigtrial alive and vibrant.
ReplyDeleteIf the FOP is a nonprofit, they may not be willing to contribute to protect their nonprofit status.
Are there any heavy hitters willing to contribute? And is Bigtrial a nonprofit?
Big Trial's been a nonprofit for the past seven years!
DeleteWhen You promoted the Theories that the 2020 Election was rigged, who would have represented You if Prosecuted for disseminating false information.
DeleteThere is a growing list that the DOJ is prosecuting for the same work that You pursued.
You're right. Who would ever believe the Dems committed election fraud?
DeleteUncle let’em loose Larry here… I’ve really enjoyed your reporting on my corruption, cowardice, and overall illegal prosecutions I’ve had a hand in, with that said I’ll gladly be coming over, wouldn’t miss it for the world.
ReplyDeleteLarry Krasner the Philly district attorney who is really just a Blanketed Racist who is letting Philly Drug Dealers become and be Serial Killers by selling pills and Heroin laced with Fentanyl with absolutely no legal consequences at all and the fake progressive Philly District Attorney For Philly who guarantees that Philly's most violent criminals are let of Philly Jails so that they can murder people within 6 months of you letting them out of jail just so you can act so heartbroken with The Philly Moms of murdered victims and show off your fake tears when Black children are Savagely murdered in Philly by the same violent criminals you made sure to let out of Philly Jails, I'm pissed that you think that people getting murdered because of your lenient policies to coddle Philly criminals is something to joke and laugh about! SMH!
DeleteYup that’s me! But I don’t think it’s a joke and my not laughing. Destroying this city, all its communities, and ruining the lives of countless families is hard work. You couldn’t possibly imagine how may crimes I have to ignore, charges I have to decline, and Police Officer’s civil rights I have to violate on a daily basis, it’s almost overwhelming. But I digress, many criminals to free here!
DeleteFYI, even pay substacks will offer a free column a week, or a partial column where the rest is visible only to paying customers.
ReplyDeleteSo the politicians will have to pay to find out what you wrote about them?
ReplyDeleteKrasner will be you first subscriber
ReplyDeleteCount me in ! Good luck and keep being real!
ReplyDeleteWould love to come but I’m on a fixed income dealing with medical issues so
ReplyDeleteMaybe in a few months I’ll have the extra few bucks good luck
Good riddance.
ReplyDeleteHeading over to Substack. Your reporting is the only truthful and factual reporting in Philly along with a few other unsung journalists. Please keep exposing the corruption in Krasner's office, the misadventures and lies of PC Nail Polish and that good for nothing pandering mayor and city council.
ReplyDeleteI understand completely. Never give up.
ReplyDeleteJust one point: It may limit your readership. I send links to your articles to many friends. I don't know how many times they're forwarded from them. They won't be able to see a link to a pay site, unless, of course, they sign up.
I could copy, paste, and then send, but it'll still limit your circulation.
Would be smarter to keep the readership active than to rely upon Substack. Alternative way to subsidize your website is to find heavy hitters among those in legal business willing to donate to help hit back those intending to do harm to police officers and other city employees.
ReplyDeleteBetter to have a live website communicating with everybody in fighting insular corruption among Krasner and his ilk, Mayor Kenney and Commissioner Outlaw.
RC here. No heavy hitters have come forward over the past 7 years.
Delete