racinecountyeye.com
RACINE, Wis. — Racine County Eye, which has no affiliation whatsoever with Kenosha County Eye, is a Racine-based news blog founded in 2013 by Denise Lockwood (D) and appears to be facing significant financial pressure after sending an email to supporters warning that it needed to raise $5,000 within 72 hours and $20,000 by April 30.
The email, sent March 29 by Lockwood, described the situation as an “emergency funding situation” and urged readers to donate immediately to keep the publication operating.
“Urgent: we need to raise $5,000 in the next 72 hours,” the subject line read.
The message did not explain what caused the financial emergency, whether the blog is facing declining traffic, subscriber losses, advertising problems, staffing costs, or another issue.
Lockwood, who previously worked for the Kenosha News before launching the Racine-based news blog, has owned and operated the publication for more than a decade. The site has positioned itself as a local news alternative in Racine County and has often focused on government, development, schools, and crime coverage.
After receiving a copy of the fundraising email, Kenosha County Eye reached out to Lockwood seeking clarification about the situation and asking what she believed was contributing to the apparent financial problems. No response was received.
The lack of response may raise additional questions about the seriousness of the situation and whether the blog is dealing with deeper issues than simply a short-term fundraising push.
The situation stands in contrast to Kenosha County Eye, which continues to add paid subscribers on a weekly basis and now has only limited advertising inventory remaining. Kenosha County Eye has increasingly relied on a subscription model with limited ads, while maintaining strong traffic and readership growth.
That raises a broader question: what is different about Racine County Eye’s business model?
Local news outlets across Wisconsin have faced mounting pressure in recent years as advertising revenue continues to decline and readers increasingly move away from traditional subscriptions. Many smaller outlets have shifted toward memberships, donations, and reader-supported models to survive.
Still, publicly announcing the need to raise thousands of dollars within a matter of days is unusual and could suggest that the Racine-based news blog is facing a significant cash-flow problem or another pressing financial challenge.
Lockwood has been publicly active in Democratic and progressive causes over the years, and critics have often accused Racine County Eye of blurring the line between activism and journalism.
Whether the donation drive succeeds — and whether the blog can remain financially stable in the months ahead — remains to be seen.
15 Responses
Racine County Eye sucks.
Also worth a mention is WRJN Radio appears to have partnered with Racine County Eye which is sad.
A mix of free to read content combined with content behind a subscription paywall.
Yet even the stories behind the paywall give you a paragraph or two and free access to read all the comments and even the ability to comment without being a paid subscriber.
Not to mention any story with even a hit of public service information is always free to read.
KCE is providing a public service while at the same time growing a medial site that not only gives us hard hitting news and opinions but allows virtually every commenter free rein in the their supportive or opposition viewpoints.
Maybe Denise Lockwood needs to see the light and copy the success just a few miles away.
Build on what you have and actually see if the liberals are willing to support your site. If not, maybe consider the alternative view points.
Conservatives put their money where it does good.
Definitely worth the little amount of money Kevin is asking for.
No doubt a two county subscription deal…KCE + RCE for one price would prove popular👍
Two totally different sites running two different business models.
Times change. Politics change.
Everything changes !
RCE needs to wake up and smell the coffee and mimic KCE in her own community and run her own business as she sees fit.
It’s her site. Her community.
She’s not even competition to KCE.
Plenty of miles and plenty of good and bad stories in Racine to cover.
Give people what they want and they’ll beat a path to your door !
Kevin has proven it’s doable and possible.
But you have to want to change.
Reminds me of the lightbulb joke.
How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb ? Only one. But the lightbulb has to want to change.
Denise. Change your course.
No one can stomach her liberal bs
I was planning on advertising with her a few years ago (my business mostly serves Racine County), but when she censored comments on Covid articles in 2020, I declined. When I told her I would not be advertising as I didn’t agree with her blocking comments (that were not rude, obscene, or advocating violence), I was told that spreading Disinformation in comments would not be tolerated on her site. She had every right to delete comments from people skeptical of the benefits of mask wearing and shot taking, but I also had every right to take my advertising dollars elsewhere. I do check the page from time to time and she has covered a few things I find interesting. It will be a loss for the area as there is no other option for local news other than the Journal.
Racine County likely has advertising dollars just waiting for a savvy media force operating to the same formula as Kenosha County Eye……
Perhaps Kenosha County Eye should have it’s ’mergers and acquisitions’ department make an offer to purchase Racine County Eye——-Ms. Lockwood appears to have established a price…$5,000. – $20,000 and perhaps is looking to exit the business.
Owning both SE Wisconsin countyeye.coms would seem a no brainer and once in a life time opportunity for market growth.
You have a call on line 2 !
Maybe that’s a step in many steps Kevin could take to expand his media empire.
Lots of examples of one successful company acquiring another.
You never know
I personally do not care what’s going on in Racine and I am sure others feel the same way!! There is more trash there than in Kenosha and I’m sure Kevin has his hands full just with Kenosha County News!!!
But owning and running a business are two different things.
All the previous commenter said was that it was a business opportunity.
Denise would still need and have a job.
Though some new direction might be chosen.
Not going to happen, (my opinion) but it’s not unheard of for one successful company to buy a “competing business” instead of starting a competing business to get into a new market.
Kevin’s not stupid. In his early 40s.
Definitely on the path to many great things in life. This just may be one of them.
Hopefully people are not dumb enough to give this woman money for whatever it is! Could be to pay her taxes, personal debt, etc. I’m surprised she didn’t start her own Go Fund Me and include the link like most people!!
Well, if she worked for the Kenosha News, it’s hard to fault her for not knowing the difference between a business and a dark blue hobby. Maybe she can put $1,000 Menard’s garden shed behind the KNews building across the highway from Danny’s restaurant, and run her business from there, using their Wi-Fi.. Kind of like those Russian nesting dolls.
RacineCountyEye represents and protects liberal dem politicians those who make decisions usually at the expense of Conservatives—Like taxes and costly social welfare programs that are a favorite of Racine. Keep in mind the voters who vote in state elections who are influenced by endorsements from Racine County Eye.
There is no doubt that people like Pat Hansen and Cory Mason thank their lucky stars any day when they don’t get featured on Kenosha County Eye.
Would be a victory for a Conservative voice to own the RacineCountyEye domain name and web address. Park the site until resources or advertises want to see it up and running.