Welcome to Decafnation
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for almost two decades, you might have noticed that we’ve entered a new age of information access. Privately-owned media companies – including the Comox Valley’s newspaper and radio stations – simply don’t have the resources to provide the breadth or depth of reporting necessary to hold local governments accountable or to provide a thorough understanding of important issues. Citizens today must seek out accurate information for themselves. But where? Social media posts are notoriously limited by opinion and mere speculation. They most often add little in the way of help or verified facts to community understanding.
Decafnation was founded by George Le Masurier in 2016 to fill that gap. He focused on the stories you wouldn’t have found in other local media. And he reported them in depth.
But now, a new team is taking on the Decafnation mission of creating a hub for trustworthy information about Comox Valley governments, social issues and events.
It’s an ongoing experiment in civic journalism that you are welcome to join. Whether you’ve ever written a story or interviewed someone, you could play a role in Comox Valley Civic Journalism. If you’re interested, send us an email (Contribute@decafnation.ca) and we’ll buy the coffee (decaf, of course).
The origin of our name
In a world already overpopulated with incivility, think of Decafnation as a refuge from high anxiety. Instead of a triple-shot, pulse-boosting caffeine assault on your nervous system, we aim to give you the milder buzz of a decaffeinated beverage. Our subscribers are the Decaf Nation.
But don’t let the coffee metaphor fool you. You’ll find passionate writing and strong opinions here. We take on controversial topics and explore the edges of unconventional ideas.
The vision is to create a gracious space. A place where people can share factual information and well-considered commentary in a respectful atmosphere. Where readers are open to diverse ideas. We are a community of thoughtful, calm people.
