Shoppers urged to support local firms for Small Business Saturday

"Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story."

"The concept started in the US but took off in the UK in 2013, with the idea that people might focus on one particular day to boost their communities by shopping local and ensuring some of their custom goes to smaller companies. Data from American Express, the principal supporter of the endeavour, shows that Britons continue to back their local firms, with around 10 million people spending 634 million in-store and online on Small Business Saturday last year."

The Independent emphasizes funding to keep reporters on the ground covering issues from reproductive rights to climate change and Big Tech. The outlet investigates political financing and produces documentaries that spotlight American women fighting for reproductive rights. The Independent operates without paywalls and relies on donations to fund reporting and to present multiple sides of stories. Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to back local firms during the run-up to Christmas and began in the US before gaining traction in the UK in 2013. American Express data shows around 10 million Britons spent £634 million on the day, and projections suggest a sizable rise in small-firm Christmas spending this year.

Read at www.independent.co.uk