Posts Tagged ‘non-profit’
Posted by jessdrkn on December 22, 2009
Location: Philadelphia 
Focus: news and opinion in the city, “In-Depth News, Analysis & Commentary for the Philadelphia Region”; sections include “Publius” for opinion; and “VoxPop” for first-person essays
Started: December 2009
Staff: Editor Tom Ferrick, a print newspaper veteran; web designer; graphics designer; and 11 story contributors listed on the site launch.
Funding: non-profit — a project of the Public Media Lab
Site: phlmetropolis.com
From About Us:
Underlying the thinking behind Metropolis is that this region has an abundance of smart, engaged people who care about the area and its future, whose definition of citizenship includes more than just voting and griping about the status quo.Through their unselfish acts, through their volunteer work and their political and civic engagement, they contribute in ways that reverberate far beyond their neighborhoods. Collectively, they serve as the soul and conscience of the Philadelphia region. They are its engines of change.
This website is designed to serve these active and aware citizens, people who have a need to know what is happening in the region that affects them, their families, their neighborhoods and their communities.
Sample stories: “The Frankford Story: In a Free Fall” about a dying neighborhood, part of two-part series; “Police pact inked”; “Special Report: Violence at South Philly High”; “Time to tax natural gas” (opinion piece); “Another ‘F’ for Philly” brief about weak education system
Posted in Pennsylvania | Tagged: Metropolis, non-profit, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, regional news and opinion | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on December 6, 2009
Location: Bakersfield, California 
Focus: “Expressing community through arts, culture and civic involvement”; information categories include “arts & culture”, “green living”, “non-profits and volunteering”, “quality of life”; calendar listings
Started: August 2009
Staff: executive director/managing editor; board of directors; solicitation for contributors
Funding: non-profit, pending 501(c)3 status; donations
Site: bakersfieldexpress.org
From About Us:
The content comes from a mix of independent reporting, community contributed columns and photos, and reader commentary. The website offers an independent, alternative source of local news and information, as well as an opportunity for outreach among community groups.Bakersfield Express is a professional and ethical voice in the community, and offers a place for community members to express themselves. We hold local government accountable through watchdog reporting, offer a central online meeting place for the arts community, and support eco-friendly lifestyle practices. We also build community by encouraging people to volunteer through our nonprofit portal and send in events for our community calendar.
Sample stories: “Artists represent isolation, loss associated with homelessness”; “Kern County has power to be renewable energy leader”; “Dia de los Muertos celebrations are to die for”; “Community concert season off to a jiving start”; “Help needed for tree planting, grove cleanup”
Posted in California | Tagged: 501(c)3, arts, Bakersfield, California, non-profit, watchdog | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on December 6, 2009
Location: Arlington, Virginia 
Focus: watchdog, investigative journalism in Virginia; conservative, small government/anti-tax slant; original reporting and some narrative coverage from other media sources
Started: October 2009
Staff: Paige Winfield, editor and writer
Funding: non-profit, 501(c)3, a project of The Franklin Center for Public Integrity, by the Sam Adams Alliance.
Site: virginia.watchdog.org
From About:
Virginia Watchdog is dedicated to balanced news reporting that promotes responsible state and local government.
The goal of Virginia Watchdog is to uncover the actions of government officials and agencies, offering carefully researched data, context and analysis.
We will investigate and inform the public about waste, fraud, abuse, ethical questions and safety concerns involving the use of taxpayer dollars. We’ll also applaud government services that are run efficiently and make exceptional use of funds.
Sample stories: “Citizens can check congressional office costs”; “Hamilton is third to resign on ethics charges”; “Imaginary Virginia districts reported on federal stimulus Web site”; “WaPo mention and Chesapeake Bay battles” news roundup.
Posted in Virginia | Tagged: Arlington, Franklin Center for Public Integrity, non-profit, Sam Adams Alliance, Virginia, watchdog journalism | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on November 2, 2009
Location: Broward County, Florida 
Focus: regional watchdog journalism, “News you can sink your teeth into”; news categories include Broward Courts, Broward Sheriff’s Office and Federal Court
Started: October 2009
Staff: volunteer, to start; 3-person board of directors led by chairman and news editor and reporter Dan Christensen, board member/reporter Buddy Nevins, and board member Julie Kay. All are career journalists. Mr. Christensen was laid off from the Miami Herald this year. There is a 9-person board of advisors
Funding: non-profit 501(c)3 (application in process); will solicit donations from individuals and foundations
Site: browardbulldog.org
From About
Broward Bulldog is an independent, not for profit online-only newspaper created to provide authoritative local reporting in the public interest. We are Florida’s first non-profit regional news site staffed by veteran, professional journalists. Our reporters will provide issue-oriented and investigative coverage of government, politics, the courts, education, business, the environment, health and public safety.
Sample stories: “Anatomy of a Frame-Up”
Media mention: “Cheers to the New Bulldog Blog in Town” article from Broward-Palm Beach New Times
Posted in Florida | Tagged: 501(c)3, Broward County, Florida, investigative, laid off reporter, non-profit, watchdog journalism | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on October 27, 2009
Location: Oakland, Calif. 
Focus: news and information on Oakland neighborhoods and local nonprofit activity; environmentally focused coverage; news categories include environment, food, development, identity, and arts & education
Started: October 2009
Staff: 5 — an editor/publisher, senior producer, senior editor, strategist/advisor, and a staff writer; collaborates with local bloggers, contributors; partners with local media outlets, namely Spot.us online news site, a radio site, and other nonprofit outlets, and Center for Investigative Reporting; also conducts social and new media training sessions in community
Funding: nonprofit, 501c3 project of The Center for Media Change; seed money from a New Voices grant awarded by J-Lab at American University, which receives funds from The Knight Foundation
Site: oaklandlocal.com
From About
Oakland Local is an independent, non-profit community news and information hub, connecting community and news. Our site combines original investigative and feature reporting with community news and information about Oakland non-profit organizations, community groups and engaged citizens.
…Centered on topics including environmental justice, food distribution, transportation, development & housing, arts & education, and gender & identity, Oakland Local aggregates information and news from local non-profits and community organizations working on these topics within a range of Oakland neighborhoods.
Stories: “People’s Grocery wins humanitarian award”; “Peralta Elementary School’s annual walk-a-thon is a big success”; “Liberation Ink co-op starts membership program to stay open, meet costs”
Posted in California | Tagged: 501(c)3, California, Center for Media Change, community collaboration, environment, J-Lab, Knight Foundation, non-profit, Oakland, social issues | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on October 7, 2009
Location: Seattle 
Focus: “News of the Great Nearby”; “…a daily guide to local and Northwest news, and a forum where writers and citizens with many points of view can report and discuss local news”; non-breaking news, aggregated news, topics, from other online media sources; original content; blogs; regional coverage includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, British Columbia, Montana; content categories include arts/living, business, politics, science/environment
Started: April 2007 (as LLC, then converted to non-profit December 2008)
Staff: founded by civic leaders, investors; content generated by ”contract writers, freelancers, prominent figures in the community or in a given field, and normal folks and specialists who have something to report or something to say,” according to the site; more than 40 contributors; paid freelancers; contributor solicitations
Funding: non-profit according to site, 501c3 status with IRS is “pending” as of November 2008 (could be outdated info); started as Crosscut LLC then converted to Crosscut Public Media; from About Us, revenue sources: “annual memberships, donations from individuals, grants and foundation support, and advertising sponsorships. In the future, we expect to produce some events, such as conferences, that will also generate income. This model resembles public broadcast, except there is no government money in the mix.”
Site: crosscut.com
From About Us
Crosscut is a daily guide to local and Northwest news, and a forum where writers and citizens with many points of view can report and discuss local news. News coverage as traditionally practiced by mainstream media outlets coexists with advocacy journalism and opinion. Crosscut is a general-interest news site, with coverage ranging over politics, business, arts and lifestyle, and the world of ideas. It does thoughtful and fresh analysis of the important issues of the day, not routine breaking news.
Sample stories: “King County’s running out of cuts”; “Real radio is found in Bellevue” (posted to a Crosscut blog); “A taste of the next mayor’s diet”; “What would Jane Jacobs do about the viaduct?”; “Seattle schools’ next hot potato: Student assignment plans”; “Are we happier in the West?”; “Obama science goes schizophrenic on salmon restoration”
Posted in Washington state | Tagged: 501(c)3, aggregation, donations, local news, non-profit, original reporting, politics, seattle, state news, the Pacific Northwest, washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on September 29, 2009
Location: Minneapolis 
Focus: “A thoughtful approach to news”; original reporting on state, regional news, politics, health, science, business, sports; a “community voices” section; blogger commentary; book club; multi-media component; national/world news from Christian Science Monitor news service
Started: 2007 (end of)
Staff: CEO, Editor Joel Kramer started project; other staff are a managing editor, web editor, director of operations, editor, news editor, advertising director; launched with 25 journalists contribution agreement
Funding: non-profit: start-up funding of $850,000 came from four families, according to site; foundation support from James L. Knight Foundation; Blandin Foundation to launch Greater Minnesota Project; as of June 30, 2008, site had 904 member-donors contributing from $10 to $10,000, according to site; advertising sold.
Site: minnpost.com
Our mission is to provide high-quality journalism for news-intense people who care about Minnesota. We intend to focus sharply on that mission, and not get distracted by trying to be all things or serve all people.
MinnPost.com provides news and analysis Monday through Friday, based on reporting by professional journalists, most of whom have decades of experience in the Twin Cities media.
…Our goal is to create a sustainable business model for this kind of journalism, supported by corporate sponsors, advertisers, and members who make annual donations. High-quality journalism is a community asset that sustains democracy and quality of life, so we are asking people who believe in it to support our work.
Sample stories: “Teamsters’ early endorsement of Rybak unusual boost for ‘unofficial’ guv candidate”; “Scientist offers dire scenario at climate-change symposium in Minneapolis”; “Update: Amid ‘tough week’ of turmoil, Minnesota ACORN folks say they’re continuing outreach work”
Media Mentions: from Knight Foundation press release, August 2007: “MinnPost to launch later this year with partial funding from Knight Foundation”; N
Posted in Minnesota | Tagged: state politics, non-profit, advertising, donations, Minnesota, state news, Minneapolis, James L. Knight Foundation, Blandin Foundation, multi-media | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on September 23, 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Focus: hyperlocal, citizen-journalism news site for Grand Rapids; open-sourced; coverage categories include news, politics, communinty life, sports, opinion
Started: Sept. 15, 2009
Staff: 4: Publisher Laurie Cirivello, Citizen Journalism Coordinator Denise Cheng, Content Facilitator Drew Storey, New Media Planner George Wietor; online solicitation to be a citizen reporter for the site; Project of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, which runs non-profit WYCE-FM (88.1), the Wealthy Theatre, GRTV and Livewire cable access television, according to Grand Rapids Press report
Funding: non-profit: grants and support from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Knight Foundation, Slemons Foundation
Site: therapidian.org
From About page
The Rapidian is a citizen journalism project intended to increase the flow of local news and information in the Grand Rapids community and its neighborhoods.
By providing tools, training, platforms and support, we hope to empower neighborhood residents to report the news from the inside out. We are an outlet for Grand Rapidians to become more than just content consumers but also providers by becoming citizen journalists.
We are currently in our beta phase and appreciate any feedback from our participants to make the most user friendly site possible.
Sample stories: “Social networking on the rise”; “Park(ing) Day 2009: A photo essay”; “Community rowing program unites different schools into a crew”; “ArtPrize piece catches fire in Cathedral Square”; “Health care demonstration”
Media mentions: Grand Rapids Press online article 9/15/09: “Grand Rapids citizen journalism site The Rapidian launches”
Posted in Michigan | Tagged: citizen journalism, Grand Rapids, hyperlocal, Michigan, non-profit | Leave a Comment »
The New Mexico Independent
Posted by jessdrkn on September 29, 2009
Location: Albuquerque
Focus: statewide, regional news, politics, environment, growth, border issues, poverty, culture categories; original reporting; blog roundup
Started: April 2008
Staff: 5 — Editor Gwyneth Doland, two senior writers, two reporter/bloggers; plus 4 contributing columnists, 1 cartoonist
Site: newmexicoindependent.com (one of six news sites with the non-profit Center for Investigative Media project)
Funding: non-profit project of Center for Investigative Media; “donations” link forwards to CIM site in Washington, DC
From About Us page
Sample stories: “Chavez, Berry exchange fire over campaign HQ rent”; “BernCo Sheriff Darren White endorses Berry for mayor”; “NM’s rising rate of unemployment could bring new stimulus money”; “Throw enough money at Johnny and surely he’ll read” (commentary)
Posted in New Mexico | Tagged: 501(c)3, center for investigative media, commentary, donations, New Mexico, non-profit, original reporting, regional news, state news | Leave a Comment »