How and why I launched Organ Mountain News
After leaving the Las Cruces Sun-News, Damien Willis launched Organ Mountain News to restore essential coverage in southern New Mexico — without a paywall, and without strings attached.
Why I left the Sun-News, launched OMN and committed to free, independent local journalism
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
Organ Mountain News has been more than a decade in the making. I first considered launching something like this back in 2014 — before I’d even become a full-time reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News. Even then, it was clear that a gap was forming in our local news ecosystem. I kept putting it off as other opportunities came up — but the idea never went away.
In May 2023, that moment finally arrived. I was still at the Sun-News when the company announced yet another newsroom restructuring. I realized I was about to be shifted into a role that didn’t play to my strengths or passion, so I resigned. And just like that, Organ Mountain News moved from long-simmering idea to urgent mission. It's an idea I've always been committed to.
Our aim is simple but critical: to serve southern New Mexico with accessible, community-centered journalism. A lot is happening in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County that never gets reported. City and county decisions, grassroots organizing, under-the-radar injustices — too often, those stories go untold. At OMN, we’re trying to change that.
We do it without a paywall, without a subscription requirement and without strings attached. That’s non-negotiable. I want anyone in the community to be able to access our stories, whether they can afford to chip in financially or not.
More on OMN's transparency: What we’re hearing: Behind the scenes, we’re rethinking how stories travel
When I joined the Sun-News in 2014, we had 17 reporters and editors. Today, there are four. The Bulletin has a similarly small team. And El Paso’s TV stations — which once had more regular coverage of Las Cruces — have reduced their day-to-day reporting in the area. When major news breaks, a reporter may be dispatched to cover it, but consistent local coverage has become less common in recent years.
To be clear, this isn’t about knocking other outlets. It’s just the reality of a shrinking media landscape. Organ Mountain News isn’t trying to replace anyone. We’re trying to add something essential back in.
To me, that means fiercely independent journalism. We’re not accountable to corporate shareholders, political backers or advertisers. We follow the facts and report with transparency — even before the story publishes. Our ethics, editorial style, and AI use policy are all public. If we expect people to trust us, we have to earn that trust every day.
I want OMN to be a neighbor, a sounding board and, sometimes, a watchdog. We’re here to elevate unheard voices and investigate the systems that shape our lives. We’ve already had some early impact — like our story about Ben Archer Health Centers allegedly denying care to undocumented patients. After our reporting and calls to lawmakers, the policy was reversed within 24 hours. We were the first to report it, and possibly the only outlet to ask hard questions.
Running a one-person newsroom hasn’t been easy. I’ve got the editorial side down — reporting, writing, editing. But bookkeeping, fundraising and advertising? That’s a steep learning curve. Still, I’m committed. And I’ve been astonished by the support we’ve received since launching publicly in late November 2024.
Organ Mountain News is here to stay. I hope in the months ahead we’ll bring on freelancers, interns and new voices who share our mission. But even if it remains a scrappy operation for a while, I’ll keep showing up. Because this work matters. And I truly believe our community deserves it.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News.
A note from the founder
If you've made it this far, thank you. Organ Mountain News was built to serve you — the people of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County — with transparency, accountability and real community connection. This isn’t just journalism. It’s a public service. And it only works if we keep listening to each other.
Have thoughts? A story to share? Email me at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect on X at @damienwillis. We’re always listening.