Newszap.com provides citizens with the electronic equivalent of a town meeting hall — a place where people gather, socialize, conduct business, exchange local news and discuss public issues. Local newspapers traditionally filled this important role. While some still do, many are now owned by big corporations that put profits or politics above service to the community.

The "zap" in Newszap.com is symbolic of our desire to empower regular citizens to get involved — so they can provide a counter-balance to Big Business, Big Government and Big Media. The Founders envisioned a government "of the people" — not governance by an elite "political class" of career bureaucrats, lobbyists and politicians.

We do not "take sides". Instead, we are committed to providing a platform where citizens control the discussion. We focus on local communities because that’s where citizens learn their skills and where most business is conducted. Participants pledge to exercise their free speech with civility — which means sticking to the issues and not lapsing into bullying, personal attacks, name-calling or profanity.

We welcome your ideas about how to improve newszap.com and make it more useful to you and your community. Please email your suggestions to webmaster@newszap.com.

Newszap.com was founded by a small and fiercely independent publishing company that invests all after-tax profits in its First Amendment mission. Providing newszap.com community websites for "Free Ads & Free Speech" is part of that mission. To request a community website for your community, e-mail webmaster@newszap.com.