The Tyee's campaign to raise $100,000 in support of its plans to go national came right down to the wire. A few hours away from deadline it was $25,000 short.

According to founding editor David Beers, a flurry of tweets called readers and supporters to action, generating the funds needed to top $100,000. "As you might imagine, all of us watching here at The Tyee were slack-jawed and astounded," wrote Beers on theTyee.ca.


"Canada needs more independent journalism," says The Tyee

The independent B.C.-based online magazine launched in 2003 and says it garners an average of 800,000 to one million page views per month. In an interview with J-Souce.ca, Beers said a third of the site's readers come from outside the province.

The online mag now looks to build a network of reporters and columnists across the country, including a possible national affairs reporter in Ottawa. Among the writers already named are multiple-time NMA winner Andrew Nikiforuk, the Globe and Mail's Lawrence Martin, and Heather Mallick from the Toronto Star. 

Final crowdfunding figures have yet to be calculated. "For now, from everyone here at The Tyee, thank you all so much. You beautiful, beautiful giving people," Beers wrote. The site will release more info on specific plans in the coming weeks.