What started out as a difficult year for The Indy is ending on a high note.

Changes are coming, too — more on that in a moment — and I have never felt more optimistic about the future of our nearly eight-year-old nonprofit. We took several giant steps toward sustainability this year at a time when our mission — and that of all journalists committed to truth and transparency — has never been more fraught or more important.

I have three updates to give you:

First, our finances: In February, I announced that we had to do layoffs and institute pay cuts. It was necessary but so painful — the most excruciating thing I have had to do in my career, and I miss those employees all the time.

What we went through was not endemic to us, and many other company leaders can relate to the growing pains that forced the budget cuts. But it did cause me to reassess the mission of The Indy and the mistakes I made — the fault was all mine, but I wanted to make sure I learned from it.

Today, I am thrilled to report that thanks to the generosity of donors, large and small, and the relentless efforts of a team led by Chief Revenue Officer Brett Burke, we are not just back on our feet but we are standing tall. For the first time in our history, we have significant money in the bank at year's end —  our largest-ever balance in our existence — and Brett and I believe 2025 will be a banner year, too.

I am thrilled to be able to give our staff of 18 employees not just raises but bonuses for their unswerving dedication and hard work. And I cannot thank enough those who have believed in us and supported us. Doing journalism is not free, and doing great journalism is not cheap. I continue to be proud every day of the stories this remarkable staff produces, and I am so glad that we have been able to right the ship.

So many news outlets are in critical financial shape, so I know how fortunate we are. Without this staff doing what they do, showing the world what real journalism looks like, and without all of our generous donors, this would not have been possible.

Second, I am making some changes at the top of the organization starting in 2025. When Elizabeth Thompson, my trusted No. 2 since The Indy began, announced she was leaving a little more than a year ago, I returned to the role of editor as well as keeping my CEO title. I felt it was the best solution at the time, but that was then.

Starting in January, I am going to relinquish the “editor” title and return to focusing on being CEO, on guiding this organization to sustainability and focusing on fundraising. That doesn’t mean I will vanish from The Indy — I will be out in the community even more, twisting arms (gently) for donations and looking for news tips for the team (some habits never die). But it's time — again — to make this change.

I am also ecstatic to announce that I am promoting Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder from co-managing editors to co-editors of The Indy. Michelle and Riley have been here from the beginning — indeed they fell in love and married while working at The Indy — and they are two of the best people and best journalists I know.

It's not just that I trust them implicitly and know they will carry on the culture of The Indy. They have made me better through the years, challenging me when necessary and generating great ideas to make the site better. They truly and passionately care about this nonprofit site, and I could not leave the newsroom in better hands.

Taking their place as managing editor of The Indy is Hali Bernstein Saylor, who has been with us for almost two years as an assistant editor. Hali has been a godsend, working with reporters, helping with story ideas and overseeing the op-ed page. She is an accomplished and skilled editor, and her work ethic is second to none. In many ways, she is the glue that holds the news side together. I could not be happier to be able to give her this promotion.

Third, and finally, a word about journalism and the future as 2025 looms. I am sanguine — I am naturally sunny — but I also am worried. The discourse has grown darker, especially on the scourge of social media, where anyone with an IP address can attack people with incendiary language. And there are people out there with followings — the likes of conspiracy theorist and provocateur Robert Beadles and venom-spewing FBI nominee Kash Patel – who publicly talk about imprisoning journalists (and others) for doing their jobs.

This concerns me deeply. I am not one who thinks the new administration presages the end of the world, that we all ought to hide in our homes, hope for the best and just do nothing. Indeed, I think we need to do something. The difficulty is figuring out what that is.

My first concern is my staff, whom I care about very much. I am used to public figures and anonymous cowards hurling invective at me, fabricating stuff about me on X/Twitter and saying things no civilized person should say. Par for the course, price of doing business, etc.

But these hardworking reporters should not have to worry about personal safety or unhinged lunatics. These are no war correspondents who know what they signed up for; they are reporters covering government, campaigns and public policy.

I am happy to be a lightning rod for some of the ugliness out there, but I also want to be clear: We know what our mission is, and we will not be cowed by the intimidation tactics of Beadles, Patel and others. I know many — or even most — of our journalism colleagues feel the same way.

Maybe the threats will evaporate, maybe these are just blowhards blowing hard. Whatever the case, we will ignore the trolls and the hyperpartisans on both sides. But no matter what the future holds, we will keep doing what we do: Cover Nevada in deep ways, eschewing breathlessness for thoughtfulness, choosing explanatory and accountability journalism that helps our readers understand an increasingly difficult world to comprehend.

That has been, is and will be our mission. Thanks for supporting us in the past, now and in the future. You can always let me know what you think at [email protected].

I will continue to repeat the only word that neatly encapsulates our task every day, despite all the obstacles and challenges:

Onward!

Jon Ralston is the CEO of The Nevada Independent.