Spot.UsCommunity Funded Reporting

What is Spot.Us?

•A nonprofit startup that fundraises for independent journalists.

•Funded by the Knight Foundation and individual donations.

•Focuses on participatory journalism.

Example!

Check out the East Bay Express!!

Flexibility •Every pitch on Spot.Us is unique.

•We stay flexible to work with different editorial partners and their needs. Beat pitches is an example.

But we always want • Trust – we want to work with folks that we

can trust and who trust us.

• Never forced: In the interest of all parties.

• “Buy in” with decision makers.

• Key liaison – somebody from every party who is tasked to the project.

• Commitment of time/resources and/or money from both parties. It does not need to be all three.

• The story/project. We are looking for good stories – that has to be at the heart of it all.

Who am I?•Technology reporter for Wired, Seed

Magazine. Freelanced for CJR, NYTimes and others.

•M.S. in Journalism from Columbia.

•My career has centered around participatory journalism.

Proposal for NYTimes

•NYTimes content. NYTimes editorial.

•Credit to Spot.Us for raising travel expenses.

•Recognition on Spot.Us that it has potential to be a NYTimes article.

•Some extra content for Spot.Us. (Reporter debrief interview and 1-2 photos).

Benefits to the Times?

•Might not get access to the story without travel funds.

•A chance to engage audience in a new dynamic way. They will feel as though they helped make this reporting possible!

•A new media experiment without major risk.

Risks to the Times?•Spot.Us doesn’t raise enough money

and reporter isn’t able to make the trip.

•Perception that the NYTimes is asking for handouts.

•Perception that content is tainted.

Response to Risks•If we don’t raise the money - it is a

failure of the Spot.Us model, not the NYTimes’ role in the project.

•Spot.Us is a nonprofit (tax deductible). The cost of this trip is incredibly high and people are aware of financial crunch.

•Spot.Us limits donation size so no individual can influence editorial. This pitch will earmark money strictly for travel.

Let’s Not Forget the Mission

•Spot.Us wants to make good journalism possible.

•Here we have a young reporter with an opportunity that comes once every 10 years.