The Green Tomato operates independently, with no advertising, no grants, and no institutional backing. It is supported entirely by reader goodwill and, in the absence of goodwill, by Matt Headley personally.
If you have found value in this publication — its reporting, its classifieds, its ongoing coverage of the Calhoun County mummy — you may choose to support it. Buford would appreciate it. He has described reader support as "a meaningful validation of the journalistic enterprise." He has said this more than once.
The following support tiers are available. All benefits are offered in the spirit of community journalism and with the full transparency that the institution of the press demands.
Concerned Citizen
$3/month
- Our sincere thanks
- The knowledge that you have supported local journalism
- A sense of civic participation
- Nothing else at this time
Committed Reader
$7/month
- Everything in Concerned Citizen
- Your name added to the Green Tomato's internal list of readers who are committed
- Priority consideration for any future reader benefits that may or may not exist
Editor's note: The list is not public. Buford keeps it in a notebook.
Bureau Associate
$15/month
- Everything above
- Recognition as a Bureau Associate
- The right to describe yourself as a Bureau Associate in casual conversation
- Buford will acknowledge this tier exists
- One letter of commendation (not legally binding)
Editor's note: Buford has reviewed the Bureau Associate tier and considers it appropriate.
Institutional Patron
$50/month
- Everything above
- Designation as an Institutional Patron, which sounds significant
- Your organization listed in our masthead (pending availability of masthead space)
- A personal note from Buford Tatum regarding your contribution and its importance to local journalism
- Invitation to be mentioned, at Buford's discretion, in a future article as a 'representative from the community'
Editor's note: The Green Tomato does not currently have masthead space allocated for institutional patrons. We are working on it.
The Green Tomato accepts no advertising and has no corporate affiliations. Reader support sustains the bureau. Buford thanks you for your consideration and notes that local journalism depends on the community it serves. He feels this is worth saying.
Questions? buford_tatum@aol.com. Buford will be in touch where applicable.