After 18 years of continuous coverage of the U.S. National Park System and the National Park Service, and the issues relating to them —Essential Coverage for Essential Places— the National Park Traveler will go dark after December 31, 2023.
Since 2005 Kurt Repanshek, founder and editor-in-chief of the Traveler, and the news organization’s contributing writers, photographers, and broadcasters have visited parks across the United States and Canada to dive into the heart of stories big and small. We've brought you stories ranging from search-and-rescue operations, climate-change impacts on the parks, and over-crowding issues to questionable institutional decision-making, land-management conflicts, and how to make the most out of your national park adventures.
The Traveler has exposed the woes of underfunded park operations, examined how prospecting for oil has damaged Big Cypress National Preserve, illustrated the threats of invasive species to the parks and the successes the National Park Service has had combatting them, and shone some much-needed light on smaller units of the park system and their wonders.
It is not that the Traveler wants to cease reporting; rather, it is that we have been unable to raise the support necessary to hire and retain both the editorial, fundraising, and support staff and services necessary to run an editorially independent nonprofit news operation. However, if another organization would like to take this on, we would be glad to talk to them.
In 2023 alone, we have had more than 1.5 million readers as readership has jumped 43 percent over 2022 levels, and our popular weekly podcast series has seen nearly 700,000 downloads since 2019, yet not enough followers made the decision to support the Traveler — nowhere near enough to cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed annually to fund newsgathering and other operational costs.
To those who have supported us, you have our deepest thanks and appreciation. We are not undertaking a fall fundraising campaign for individual donors or pleading with you to keep the lights on. We have tried that many times, and it did not work.
On behalf of the board of the National Parks Traveler, we wish you all the best and hope that you will keep an eye on the parks even as the Traveler cannot without more substantial, and reliable, support.
Comments
This is the worst news possible. The NPS, like all government agencies, needs watchdogs and public spotlights on their behavior. Sorry to see you go.
Sorry to hear that. It's been a fun ride.
I've enjoyed reading all things on NPT, and will miss the content.
While I understand that some moderation of comments is necessary, I found that the censorship was often lopsided in favor of a left-wing agenda--and largely unnecessary.
In any case, the content often presented unusal or underreported views that one could not find elsewhere. I appreciate the time that Kurt R and the NPT gang put into the website. The struggles to keep it afloat were surely monumental.
Good luck in your future endeavors.
What terrible news. I treasure the Traveler for all my park news. Sorry to see you go.
Will greatly miss the site but I certainly understand the decision. I've heard it said that "Journalism is worth what you pay for it." Now we all get to pay but not in cash. Thanks so much for your efforts over the years!
I've been doing my part - you are one of the few organizations that I donate to. I'm sad to see you go, and we will all be worse off for it.
Very sad. I'm a longtime supporter but unable to financially bear a load. I'll have to live with that, in the dark.
Terrible news. But not surprised. Too many people expect a free ride and then everyone has to pay for thier stinginess.
You've done an amazing job. Not many people would have the courage and tenacity to tackle a job like this.
I hope you will be able to enjoy a long and well deserved retirement. Gonna go visit some parks??