David Cohn - Director www.Spot.us

Crowdfunding your Investigative Reporting

Tips and advice on effective freelancing

Funding Options for Journalists

Personal debt (totally sucks)

Web advertising (mere pennies)

Large foundations (long and torturous)

Sponsorships (selling out?)

News organization buys content (dying off)

Crowdfunding (not easy - but can be done).

Best of times, worst of times

Production cost down

Distribution cost down

Civic engagement up

Crowdfunding up

Social networks up

More content than ever

Content assumed to be free commodity

Old revenue streams dying

Mistrust of professional journalism.

Good Not so good

What do you mean “crowdfunding”

Obama

ReelChanges.org

Kiva.org

DonorsChoose.org

Indiegogo.com

Prosper.com

and .... Spot.Us!!!

For more on micro-philanthropy,

check out blog.socialactions.com.com/

“The collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool money together, usually to support

efforts initiated by other people or organizations.”

How to fundraise on Spot.Us

Sell the story - journalists are natural storytellers.

Pre-report: obvious mastery of a subject is appealing

Explain your deliverables - what will you produce?

Justify the cost - explain the work you’ll put in.

Be personal - they are investing in you too.

Actions speak louder - Get started on a blog and link.

FIRST: Define The Investigation

The “Community” in “Community Funded Reporting”

Identify target audience.

Partner with influential civic organizations, nonprofits, local bloggers, news organizations. (There is no such thing as a competitor).

Personal emails and phone calls can be huge.

Social networks - Facebook, Digg, Meetup, Twitter, Ning, etc.

Be creative and have fun with this part. You are now working for the public - and they love you for it.

Rock on!!!!

Not every pitch will be successful - but the cost of trying is very low.

The more you position yourself as working for the public - the more likely they will trust and fund your next investigation.