ReelChanges.org, which is run by the 501c3 “Center for Media Change” is now my fiscal sponsor (some paperwork pending, but wheels are in motion and I feel very good about this flowering relationship).

What is “fiscal sponsorship” you ask?

It basically means that Spot.us will share the 501c3 status that the Center for Media Change already has. For those of you that think I’ve been rolling in the dough since winning the Knight News Challenge – well, truth is, I haven’t seen any money yet and won’t until this relationship is settled. I made a choice to do this as a nonprofit which means the money had to sit in a separate pile until I achieved that status. In the meantime I’ve been paying for hosting, expenses, etc out of pocket. No biggie – just some fun bureaucratic stuff that’s good to know if you want to start your own nonprofit.

Why the Center for Media Change?

Take one look at ReelChanges.org and you’ll understand. Sympatico, no?

Not only are our missions the same (with a different focus) – I share a kindred spirit with ReelChanges founder Hal Plotkin. We both see a wide open field for “community funded reporting” and from what I can tell are motivated by the same forces…

1. A desire to make journalism a participatory process, ie: give the public a voice in how the news is made.
2. Ensure that quality reporting has a future despite the industry’s falling profits from advertising.

Want to learn more about Hal and ReelChanges.org? Check out this great interview with J.D. Lasica.

Related posts:

1. This is How Spot Reporting Works