left917 is free, with no likes and no ad network. We would like to keep it that way, and the best way we have found is a short, curated list of dedicated underwriting partners. These are local businesses that put their name behind one page, one column or one series. No banners. No pop-ups. No programmatic ads. No auction for your attention.
You're helping keep local news and events free for everyone, while putting your business alongside the things people here care about.
How it works
One business backs one page, feature or series. Its name and logo sit in a bordered "Underwritten by" strip right under the title, in the same spot every time, so readers learn where to look. You also get a credit line and a link to wherever you want people to go, plus an honest report of what your spot did, counted in confirmed humans, not bots. Right now that's Shred Boone on the bands page and Rat King Studio on the Flash wall.
Each spot has one underwriter at a time. Anyone who commits to a longer run gets the first chance to renew before we offer it to someone else.
What you don't get. A say in what we write. Underwriters never preview copy and never shape coverage. If we cover your business, it's because it's news. If we don't, it isn't.
What's on the menu
Here is what we have so far.
- Sports columns. One for each App State football and basketball game, with your strip under the column's title. Take one, or a bundle of three.
- The daily callout and Daily Update. The most-seen spot we have, right on the front page every day.
- First Press. Our App State student series, up to ten pieces reported and written by students starting spring semester, pending App State's approval. Students own their work, and the underwriter has no say in what we assign, edit or run.
- The next print issue. 500 free, take-one copies at about 20 to 30 stops around Boone and App State, with two boxes and a line credit to go around.
- This weekend and This week in the High Country. The events bands near the top of the front page. Take one, or both.
- The circled event. Your name on the one event we circle at the top of the front page, for a day or for a week.
- The Holiday List. Our guide to holiday events, Nov. 16 through Dec. 31, with your strip at the top.
Most of these come in bundles too. The Season Package is for one sponsor who wants to be everywhere through spring semester. It includes three football columns, three basketball columns, both print boxes in the next issue, and the spring First Press series. The daily callout and Daily Update are part of it for one month only, not the whole season.
Who we're after
Boone and High Country businesses that want to be seen by people who live here: venues, shops, studios, bars, restaurants, makers. Not candidates, not campaigns, not national chains.
Want in?
We're open to other ideas, so if none of these fit, tell us what would. Pricing is a conversation, and we're happy to have it. Email studio@left917.net, tell us who you are and which page fits, and we'll send the numbers. We read everything.