A quick presentation on Spot.Us and how NPR could steal this concept and blow spot.us out of the water.

1. HELLO PUBLIC
BROADCASTERS
Innovate or Die
(Harsh, I know - but Ernie said it first!)

2. This is one of
114,513,534,234,523 ideas
• We can experiment with networked reporting,
new editorial structures, storytelling tools,
participatory journalism and partnerships
between professional and amateurs.

3. Why Experiment?
Rule of the Internet: It is cheaper and easier to try
something than it is to debate about whether or not to
try something.
Stems from Agile and Iterative development.

4. Why Collaborate
Content is King and is the most important.
Collaboration is Queen and is the most powerful.

5. Foundation for Collaboration
• Trust – work with folks you can trust.
• 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. That must be at heart of it all.

6. Community Funded Reporting
The act of distributing the cost of hiring a
reporter across many different people.

7. You can steal this idea.
No joke..... There are several
ways to steal this idea.
Ask me how.

8. What does it look like?

9. Micro-philanthropy isn’t New
...inspiration for Spot.Us
• Kiva.org - Raises $1 million in loans every
10 days.
• DonorsChoose - Raised $8 million last
year for teachers.
• SocialActionssites. 19 different micro-
philanthropy
searches

10. The Theory of Donating
•People donate to NPR all the time.
How is so what’s the big deal?
Throwing money over a wall
vs......

11. Transparency and Control

12. KEYS TO SUCCESS
Micropayment sites Craigslist, eBay, Amazon
Personal connection to
Connects buyers and sellers in
donation.
an open market.
Transparent about money.
Everyone can EASILY
Viewed as a public good. participate.
Tap into wealth of networks. Addictive and empowering
service.
Gives a new sense of power.

13. Donating is Social
Every pitch is a campaign.

14. NPR Has a Community
This is a form of DIALOGUE
Unleash the Kraken of your
audience
Let them have fun in donating.

15. AND NPR!?!
Calling out KALW as..... AWESOME!

16. Not that Hard to Picture
Imagine this page filled with NPR pitches
from across the country.

17. What does this represent?
• A new transparency and collaboration in journalism.
I’m here to see how far the rabbit hole goes and
report back to the larger journalism
community.
What I used
to say....

18. The Water is Fine....
Training wheels are coming off soon.
http://s%ay.Spot.Us
http://la.Spot.Us (WITH USC)
http://???.Spot.Us
http://???.Spot.Us
Looking for content partners in locations around the
country.

19. On a New Site