Since 2012, The DTM has been providing curated local news, independent reporting, and commentary from Charlottesville, Virginia. I named it after a local short hand for Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, a 9-block stretch of Main Street that was converted into a pedestrian mall in the 1970s [and one of the few still around], which always seems to be at the center of the cultural, social, and political life of the community.

Who is The DTM?

I was a staff writer for The Hook and later wrote for Takepart.com before returning to freelancing and running The DTM.

On a lighter note, I wrote about the local restaurant scene and development for several years, seniors issues for the Daily Progress, and even wrote some satirical news.

You can learn way more than you need to know here.

Reach out at dsmcnair@gmail.com or on twitter at @DSMcNair

Thanks for reading!

David McNair, editor

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Why subscribe?

“Good stuff from what seems to be the best news source in Charlottesville.” — Rick Tetzeli, executive editor, Fast Company Magazine, talking about The DTM.

• You want access to subscriber-only posts and the full DTM archive

• You want truly independent local journalism to thrive

• You want more journalists writing for The DTM

• You think 25 cents a day is a good deal

• You like to stay informed and have fun

• You're cutting back on coffee and don't know what to do with all that extra cash

• You have a rich uncle

C-Ville Weekly - "What the DTM brings to local news—besides McNair’s institutional knowledge—is a zestier writing style than more established media.”

Some writing highlights

• Police vs. Civilians: What will it take to establish an effective Police Civilian Review Board?

• Title IX Remix: will new rules on sexual harassment & assault investigations serve justice?

• Why Charlottesville? How a Facebook comment, an unknown blogger, and some old tweets inflamed a debate about race and monuments

• Viral justice? Chief Longo on the alleged "knock out game" assault on the DTM

• Dave, fame, and Haines: Celebrity, suicide, and the etiquette of envy

• Tale of Woe: The death of the VQR's Kevin Morrissey

• Send Girls Off to Learn, Not Off to Marry, Says 13-Year-Old Pakistani Activist

• Forget the ‘Rolling Stone’ Debacle: At UVA, 38 Reports of Sexual Violence, 0 Expulsions Last Year

• Wanna know what 9 years writing for an alt weekly looks like? Be my guest. No, that is not a real hat.

• Search The DTM archive

Other stuff

• Follow The DTM Facebook and Twitter page

• Join the Seen on the DTM Facebook group: This group is for people to post weird, unusual, strange, disturbing, beautiful, news worthy, and otherwise awesome things they see on or near Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

• Want to be a DTM contributor? Send pitches to dsmcnair@gmail.com

• Want to support The DTM but don't want to become a subscriber? Become a DTM Patron. Or simply make a payment to my Venmo account.

• Also, as a long-time journalists and communications specialist, I accept occasional freelance projects. Need help with communicating more effectively in print and online, media outreach, or social media and website management? Contact me here.

• Interested in becoming an investor? I've got some ideas about how The DTM could evolve. dsmcnair@gmail.com.