Last Call for Lagging Fund Drive

From Editor Robert Parry: For nearly 16 years, we have tried to give readers in the United States and around the world truly independent journalism, doing what the mainstream U.S. news media often doesn’t do: take on the hard stories with seriousness and professionalism.

We have done this on a shoe string, but we can’t continue without at least a modest budget. Our current mid-year fund drive seeking just $25,000 remains about $10,000 short. And we are down to our last few days. If you can, please help.

There are four easy ways to support our independent investigative journalism:

First option: You can make a tax-deductible donation by credit card at the Web site or by check to Consortium for Independent Journalism (CIJ); 2200 Wilson Blvd.; Suite 102-231; Arlington VA 22201. Or you can use PayPal (our account is named after our e-mail address “[email protected]”).

With any donation of $50 or more, you can request as a premium gift a copy of one of two documentaries about the historic 1980 election:

A DVD of the PBS “Frontline” documentary “The Election Held Hostage,” co-written by Robert Parry. It explores whether Republican skullduggery with Iran was a factor in electing Ronald Reagan.

Or, filmmaker William Brandon Shanley’s documentary, “The Made for TV Election,” which examines the role of media manipulation. It is narrated by actor Martin Sheen.

For $100, you can get both. And for $125, we will add the two-DVD set of the closed-door congressional debriefing of Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe, describing his role in these historic events.

Once you make your donation, simply e-mail us your selection at [email protected].

If you’d prefer, a book instead of a DVD, you can ask for an autographed copy of one of Robert Parry’s last three books Lost History, Secrecy & Privilege or Neck Deep as a substitute. Just follow up your donation with an e-mail expressing your choice.

Second: if you’d rather spread out your support in smaller amounts, you can sign up for a monthly donation. With contributions of $10 or more a month, you can qualify for war correspondent Don North’s DVD, “Yesterday’s Enemies” about the lives of former Salvadoran guerrillas. For details, click here.

(If you sign up for a monthly donation and want to get Don’s DVD, remember to contact us at [email protected]. If you prefer, we can substitute “The Election Held Hostage” or “The Made for TV Election.” Just ask.)

Third option: if you can’t afford a donation right now, you can also help us reach our fundraising goal by taking advantage of our deep discount for the two-book set of Robert Parry’s Secrecy & Privilege and Neck Deep (co-authored with Sam and Nat Parry). The sale price for the set is only $19, postage included. For details, click here.

Fourth: you can help us close out our warehouse space by buying full boxes of Secrecy & Privilege or Neck Deep for only $59. Each carton contains 28 paperbacks, or you can ask that we give you a mix of half and half, 14 of each.

You can give the books away as gifts or resell them for your own fundraiser. (One reader placed an order for her book club, a great idea since each book costs only about $2.)

For details about this bulk book order, click here and scroll down to the $59 offer.

As always, thanks for your support.

Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. He founded Consortiumnews.com in 1995 as the Internet’s first investigative magazine. He saw it as a way to combine modern technology and old-fashioned journalism to counter the increasing triviality and timidity of the mainstream U.S. news media