A presentation to the NYT that resulted in the start of a working relationship with them for the "Pacific Garbage Patch" story.

1. Spot.Us
Community Funded Reporting

2. What is Spot.Us?
•A nonprofit startup that fundraises
for independent journalists.
•Funded by the Knight Foundation
and individual donations.
•Focuses on participatory journalism.

3. Example!

4. Check out the East Bay Express!!

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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).

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.