Archive by Author
Public Support.11 Branding and Goodbye
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Cohn asks, what leverage do we have that the conventional news business model doesn’t have? “The idea of filling in what isn’t being done by the major media” is a very fundable area, Rosen says. Osnos says accountability is the most important role of the media, and is disappointed in declines in coverage like that […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.10 Cost Basis?
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
“Every situation where it’s a symphony model and an endowment or the government funds us, we’re worse.” says Davidson. He prefers to be a “scrappy beast” finding his own funding. Leonard Witt asks about the cost basis. Tofel says “you could mount an incredible news gathering organization for $3 million a year in a smaller […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.9 News Batting Averages
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Leonard Witt says gathering money should be a way of sustaining a network. He points to Minnesota Public Radio as an excited donor base. Osnos says there’s always a tug of war between funder demand for content and editorial independence. He points to Frontline as an entrepreneurial and hard-nosed news show. “Recognize that it’s never […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.8 Working for the Symphony
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Cohn and Rosen ask the group for a charge they can take back to the group. Tofel, going back to a fee request, says “We couldn’t we pass a law that says if you sell ISP services, you must charge everyone 5 cents a month, and deposit the 5 cents a month in a fund? […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.7
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Richard Tofel of ProPublica says endowments are a form of public support that will endure. The group debates the merits of temporary projects and pilot projects versus permanent journalism. Tofel points out that cultural institutions like symphonies are supported in the non-profit model across the country. He says virtually none are operated on a for-profit […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.6 A New Model?
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Jay Rosen asks about ideas arising for a new model for funding public journalism. David Cohn of Spot.Us says their stories are funded with average donations of $33. Funding for stories has slowed since the economic crisis. “Normally people don’t think about donating to journalism,” Cohn says. “Unless you’re an accredited brand like NPR.” […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.5 NPR continued
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Peter Osnos of PublicAffairs Books says public radio has defended its editorial integrity better than any form of media, and is now beyond dispute. Adam Davidson pushes back: the niche audience that listens to radio while going about daily activities will diminish. “It’s not that we’re going to be competing with Rush and Rush […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.4 The NPR Way
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
“It’s a tough time for us,” says NPR’s Adam Davidson, there will be new cutbacks. “WNYC is now more corporate support than public gifts, which is a first for them, it’s a first for the system. …The biggest thing that’s new is how to monetize non-station distribution. We sort of own the podcast space. We’re […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.3 ProPublica Continued
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Tofel says “one year grants or three year grants are not a way to sustain anything. If you were going to sustain this thing one philanthropy, you would need a very broad base.” Currently ProPublica is funded on rolling 3-year grants from the Sandler Foundation. What is their direction? Tasks: 1. Proving they can recruit […]
Continue Reading
Public Support.2 The ProPublica model
Posted on 23. Oct, 2008 by Eliot Caroom.
Richard Tofel says ProPublica is the largest investigative journalism staff in the country, and is entirely funded by philanthropy. Most support comes from the Sandler Foundation, with support from others like the McCormack Foundation. “We’re very cognizant of the fact that we’re making it up as we go along,” Tofel says. He adds that the […]
