Help the Award-Winning Bali Update Continue

Help the Award-Winning Bali Update Continue to Publish During the Global Pandemic 

Your assistance is needed to help Bali Update continue to share important news on the Island of Bali and many efforts underway to reconfigure the local economy in a way to sustainably provide for the daily welfare of the many lives shattered by the continuing global pandemic. 

History of Bali Update

Bali Update was established in March 1998 by well-known Indonesian travel professional John M. Daniels c.h.a. amid a multi-faceted crisis affecting Indonesia's economy, political structures, and environment. On the ground and well-informed, "Jack" felt compelled to dispel highly inaccurate reports circulating on major news networks falsely suggesting the entire Indonesian archipelago was enveloped in smoke from localized forest fires and spreading sensationalist stories incorrectly depicting pervasive civil unrest that had no basis in fact. Jack began sending emails to travel industry colleagues and friends, providing an alternate, local view on current development to counter the many erroneous reports causing people to cancel plans to visit Bali and the rest of Indonesia.

Born in a season of crisis, Jack's email were quickly shared and circulated. Requests to be included in his weekly email list followed, quickly creating a mailing list numbering in the thousands that became known as the "Bali Update."  Sharing Bali news translated from independent mainstream new channels and local media, interviews with key tourism players, and hard data from reliable sources - Bali Update always strove to tell the truth. And through the ensuing years populated with two terrorist bombings, earthquakes, tsunamis, public protests, and existential threats to Bali's culture and natural environment - the weekly Update was always there to share the truth and make sure that "Bali's side of the story" and the Island's efforts to "set thing right" were always heard globally. 

That from time to time, Bali Update's coverage both angered and pleased people on every sector of the political spectrum, suggests the weekly newsletter must be doing something right. Further praise in the form of awards for service to the tourism industry from the Republic of Indonesia, the Governor of Bali, a PATA Gold Award, and accolades from tourism stake holding organizations - all served to bolster the reputation of Bali Update.  

Bali Update and the balidiscovery.com website, where our news articles are archived, are well known for accurate sourcing and reporting of news related to the Island of Bali. Over more than 1,350 editions, the Update is routinely quoted worldwide by major print and electronic media as a reliable source of Bali's tourism-related news. This includes a citation by TIME Magazine as "Bali's Truth Ministry." 

With more than two decades of sharing Bali's message with the world, the need for Bali Update's continuing role as a conduit of accurate information is more important than ever. Now, more than ever, the world needs accurate and up-to-date information on the steps being taken by Bali to safely reopen its doors to tourism and details of how the Island will diversify its economy in ways that will provide employment without sacrificing its ancient culture.  

Like many others, Balidiscovery.com - owned and operated by Bali Discovery, has suffered from the extensive economic disruption resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Past revenue streams from tourism activities provided by Bali Discovery and the advertising that sustained Bali Update in the past have now either disappeared or diminished significantly.  

Because of the current situation, Bali Update is now earnestly seeking donations in any amount that will allow our 22 plus years effort to share news on Bali to continue. Any donation, big or small, will allow us to continue to keep the newsletter and website running, publish the news every week, and pursue plans to enhance coverage despite the problematic nature of the times in which we now live. Those plans include a campaign to increase our readership base beyond the current subscribers' list of 40,000 and draw more readers by moving forward with a regular series of podcasts. 

Bali Update needs broad base support to continue to share news about Bali with the world. Recent news and well-researched editorials published on Bali Update recommending significant changes in national and local policies needed to stage an economic comeback for Bali have been very well received in influential circles in Indonesia - both on a provincial and national level.  

Those wishing to subscribe to Bali Update or see some of the Bali Update's continuing cover of Bali news can visit www.balidiscovery.com

Those wishing to support this Bali Update Group Funding Initiative, we pledge to redouble our efforts to continue to share Bali's vitally important news with the world via our weekly newsletter. This includes our steadfast support for efforts now underway to contribute to the general welfare of the Island's broader community to create a diversified and self-sustaining economy. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this appeal. To those who respond with a donation - no matter how great or small, we offer our sincere gratitude and renewed commitment to continue to share Bali's story with the world. 

Because of GoFundMe Rules and current technical limitations, this project is being coordinated by Leslie Marie Neilson, John Daniels’ niece who lives in Northern Michigan and who is ensuring the funds arrive in the hands of Bali Update.