How to Join Drop Site's Discord

We've launched a semi-private Discord server for paid subscribers. Join thousands of readers powering our next wave of investigations.

As we continue to build Drop Site News, one of the developments we’ve found most inspiring is the community that is building around it – whether that’s in the comment section under articles, on social media, at virtual screenings, or at live events.

Until now, we've maintained a small WhatsApp group where dedicated readers help shape our coverage by sharing video clips, translating international reports, and offering valuable perspectives. The WhatsApp group has been extremely helpful to us as we sort through the news, and the feedback we’ve gotten suggests that it’s a meaningful experience for those participating in it as well. The problem is that it has gotten unwieldy and can be hard to follow, which is where Discord can be a help. Discord is akin to a chatroom, but allows for individual conversations to branch out on their own without bogging the rest of the conversation down.

So we've launched a semi-private Discord server and opening it up to our paid subscribers. Think of Discord as a sophisticated digital gathering space where you can get:

• Direct interaction with our journalists and our readers as news breaks

• The opportunity to inform our coverage

• Behind-the-scenes insights into our editorial process

• Exclusive AMAs and community discussions

• Topic-specific channels for deeper conversations

• A space to connect with fellow readers who share your commitment to investigative journalism about the issues you care about

We’re limiting the space to paid subscribers so that we can maintain a thoughtful level of discourse. This isn’t a place for no-holds-barred flame wars, nor are we pretending it’s an anything-goes free-speech zone. Save that for your favorite social media platform. This is the same policy we’ve taken toward our comments section, and so far it’s been broadly successful.

When you upgrade to a paid subscription, you'll receive an email with a private link to join our Discord community.

By becoming a paid subscriber today, you'll:

• Gain immediate access to our private Discord community

• Lock in our best rate (less than $9/month with an annual subscription)

• Enable us to plan ambitious investigations with confidence

• Join a community of readers committed to supporting independent journalism

Here's why this matters: We want to reach 10,000 paid subscribers by month's end to sustain our vital reporting in 2025. We now have 9,500 paid subscribers out of a total of more than 320,000. Your subscription directly funds investigations that authoritarian powers at home and abroad would rather keep hidden – and that other news outlets are too intimidated to cover. With steady annual revenue, we can pursue long-term projects without compromise.

Ready to join our inner circle?

In an era where genuine community is increasingly rare, we're building something special – a space where critical journalism meets collective understanding. But we can only do this with your support.

Thank you for being part of the Drop Site community. Together, we're just getting started.

See you in the Discord!