4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS STREET PAPERS President’s Letter – Greetings from Glasgow Greetings, Readers! My name is Jacob Fallman, the newly-elected Board President of Groundcover News. Please enjoy these updates from the August 31-September 3 INSP Global Summit in Glasgow, Scotland. We’re proud to celebrate Groundcover’s international reach and reputation with you. Groundcover News is a proud member of INSP, the International Network of Street Papers, which was founded in 1994. An international non-profit headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, INSP exists to support and develop street papers around the world. INSP’s membership includes 92 street papers, in 35 countries, published in 25 languages, who collectively provide over $20 million in yearly economic benefits to more than 5,500 global newspaper/magazine vendors. Summit participants were welcomed to Glasgow with a reception at Civic House, an event space housed inside a repurposed 1920s printworks. Guests enjoyed Scottish fare served by Social Bite, a socially-conscious eatery that provides jobs and housing support for local homeless people. It is hard to imagine a more fitting way to bring together street journalism professionals from as nearby as down the street or as far away as Taiwan. The bulk of Summit activities took place on the campus of Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). Known as Scotland’s “University for the Common Good,” a highlight of the Summit was the announcement that GCU’s library agreed to host an archive of thousands of street papers from INSP members. Off campus, I was lucky to be included in a small group who visited the National Piping Centre where the bagpipes can be heard from blocks away. After some history and a brief tour of the museum, we were treated to an introductory piping lesson and even got the chance to play a full set of great highland bagpipes. Later that week, we returned to the Piping Centre for a traditional Scottish meal, featuring haggis and a generous array of scotch whisky to sample. Spreading knowledge, showing solidarity, securing the future There is something about being in a room with talented, passionate people who share your values that makes anything seem possible. That was the energy permeating the space as the global brain trust of street paper professionals came together to discuss how to meet the moment. Local experts and veteran INSP JACOB FALLMAN Board President took a project or an idea home with them that they would never have encountered if not for the summit. But even more importantly, each street paper was emboldened to pursue change. Our collective mission to end homelessness seemed as much of a goal to strive for as it was a dream we shared. In addition to sharing knowledge members facilitated discussions touching many topics of concern to street papers. One GCU professor who studied inequality presented on how different news outlets cover issues of poverty and shared evidence-based practices based on Scotland’s efforts to target child poverty. Other discussion leaders covered topics ranging from myths holding back street papers, responding to rising authoritarianism with good journalism, and how to find hope in the midst of hardship. Outside of the large group meetings, summiteers came together in small groups to address issues that were most pressing to their street paper. Some focused on fundraising, digitization, and creating alternative revenue streams to improve their paper’s financial stability. Others dug into issues addressing vendor support, like how to impart journalism skills to vendors or best practices for interacting with trauma and the criminal justice system. Across all these meetings, those attending the Global Summit showed their passion, creativity and determination. Each had a unique experience and contribution to offer, and each and learning new skills, summiteers convened in Glasgow with the additional purpose to make important decisions about the future of the INSP. Together we dug into finances, discussed the location of our global HQ, and planned for sustainably funding our operations into the future amidst uncertainty. The discussion that followed was critical, but collaborative. Thanks to our shared vision and purpose, we built consensus and agreed on a plan that all felt confident would allow INSP to continue its mission and support its members’ papers. A little about me As a law student at the University of Michigan, I encountered Groundcover News intermittently and purchased copies from vendors when I ran into them. But it was when I started to volunteer in 2024 that I truly began to appreciate the paper and what it does for our community. After being called to join the board last year and serving as Secretary under Board President Anna Gersh, I have been grateful for the welcoming environment and generous support of my fellow board members. I am honored by their vote of confidence in electing me to serve as our next Board President and for the opportunity they gave me to return to Glasgow. Almost exactly ten years prior to the 2026 Summit, I was at GCU as an international student on loan from Truman State University. Walking the streets of Glasgow took me back to good times studying at “Cali.” Passing by a familiar wooded hill, I remembered many times trudging up with pizza and beers in tow to visit my friends who lived at the top. Still there were the notoriously friendly Glaswegians who taught me as much about politics in the pubs as I have ever learned from my professors in the classroom. And just like last time, I found myself on the GCU campus being challenged by new and often radical ideas about media, economics and justice. The Times Ahead There are challenging times ahead for all of us. The greed of corporate elites and Trump’s unwise and undemocratic war in Iran have jeopardized economic security for all of us in the 99%. As we come together to weather the storms ahead, know that Groundcover News stands in solidarity with you. When the media becomes more topdown and closed off, we remain committed to uplifting the voice of the community. When people are more separated and captured by technology than ever, we will continue to fight back with real human connections and high-quality newsprint. When someone feels like there is no opportunity for them, we will be there to shine a light and hold out a hand. Thank you for engaging with our paper and for supporting our vendors. Everything that we do depends on you. OCTOBER 2, 2026 2026 INSP Summit attendees hold up their publications from around the world. Photos from Summit taken by Jack Donaghy
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