Welcome folks. Have a question? We’ll do our best to give you a straight answer.
What makes Honest Austin different from other media in Austin?
Honest Austin is a made-in-Texas small business. Unlike other media that are owned by big chains or out-of-state investors, Honest Austin is a startup that’s not beholden to corporate interests.
That said, our aim isn’t necessarily to replace other media, but to focus on unreported stories and offer unique angles on current events. As the saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
Are y’all fake news?
Well, not if we can help it. We’re pretty careful about what we publish and where we get our facts, but there’s no guarantee you’re going to agree with the angle we take on every story. Read our stuff, judge for yourself.
Where do you get your information from?
Lots of places: public information requests, interviews, live events coverage, livestreams of public meetings, ordinary citizens, email exchanges with public officials or company representatives, press releases, official sources on social media, studies and reports by businesses or academics, etc. One key function of a journalist is to sift through a lot of data and make decisions about what to present to readers and what not.
Are you conservative or liberal?
Sometimes it’s better to just let the facts of a story speak for themselves and not editorialize about them. That’s often what you’ll see in the articles that we publish. But if we had to pick a place on the political spectrum where we fit best, you’d probably find us somewhere in the center or center-right.
That means, for example, that you probably won’t find articles here raving about how all taxation is illegitimate, but you would see critical reporting about how tax dollars are being used and what the tax burden means for individuals and businesses.
Okay so what’s the point of this website?
The idea is that we have to talk about the tough issues, even if we don’t necessarily agree about them. Straight talk is better than no talk.
We’re hoping that you’ll find here information and ideas that will help you navigate your world – economically, politically, socially, etc.
Who runs Honest Austin?
Many but not all of the articles on this site are written by Daniel Van Oudenaren, editor and publisher of Honest Austin. Check out his bio here.
How can I get involved?
Well, if you’re really interested in helping, feel free to send a message letting us know about who you are and how you came across the site. It’s always really nice to hear from readers. Other ways you can help are by spreading the word, donating via Paypal, subscribing, or signing up to get our weekly newsletter.
How can I change or cancel my subscription?
Click on the “Honest ATX” bubble icon in the bottom right corner of our site. Be sure you’re logged in. From there you’ll be given options for changing or canceling your subscription.
How can I get in touch with you?
To start with, try sending us a note using this contact form, and be sure to leave your email and a phone number too, if you like. You could also try messaging us on Facebook or Twitter, using the direct/private messages function.