Last week, I was invited to sit on an alumni panel for current students in the Entrepreneurial Journalism Creators Program at the Newmark J-School, the intensive training course in which I met Sheeka Sanahori, author of this week’s feature about a new agritourism initiative showcasing Black farmers.
After I gave a brief overview of The Food Section’s reporting, revenue strategy, and first year achievements, a student typed a follow-up into the Zoom chat:
“One question for Hanna,” she wrote. “How big is The Food Section’s staff?”
I explained that the newsletter thus far is just me.
Being my own boss means I don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to attend The National Critics Institute at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center next month. But it also means I can’t ask anyone to cover for me while I’m away at the residency, even though the orientation materials say, “We ask everyone to clear their decks as far as possible.”
Instead, I can only ask for you to forgive a brief hiatus between this season of The Food Section and the next. To get the most out of the program, I’m putting all billing on hold for July. While the session won’t consume the entire month, I am confident that this publication and its subscribers will benefit from my taking a few days without deadlines to plot the year ahead.
But in the spirit of transparency, I should tell you that I’m also working a short vacation into the mix. Being every employee of a startup news organization can wear you out: I’m looking forward to crossing a few squares off my summer reading bingo card, playing bridge, and swimming after sunup.
Again, this summer break won’t cost you a dime. The Food Section will publish next Monday and Wednesday, as usual, and then pause operations on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Billing will resume in August.
In other words, if your annual subscription was set to expire in September, you now won’t have to renew until October. If you’re on a monthly plan, you won’t be charged in July.
Still, I understand you didn’t sign up for The Food Section so you couldn’t read it. As a token of my appreciation for your understanding during July’s 31 (hopefully long and hot) days, please accept the below 31 percent discount—or forward it along to a friend who hasn’t yet subscribed. The promo code is good through the end of this weekend.
Don’t forget! The Food Section’s exit-by-exit eating guide to I-95 is dropping on Monday, but only paying subscribers will be able to access it. Check the status of your subscription here.
Thank you in advance for your patience. Have a great summer!
Take care,
Hanna
Enjoy your sabbatical !
Take care, enjoy the break, and thank you.