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PANDA to the rescue!
on: Is Lottery Marketing Predatory? |
February 16, 2012 |
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@Mark - I can't speak for Susie. But I don't think the "apparent ambivalence" is part of her pitch. If you read over the pitch - what she is working on is an illustrated history of Occupy Oakland. She was the person holding the camera - not the person throwing something at the police. She is there collecting moments of history and will provide a kind of illustrated look at the Occupy Oakland movement when it's done. So again, I don't speak for Susie - but I'd guess it's incidental.
on: An Illustrated History of Occupy Oakland |
November 4, 2011 |
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@Bart - maybe this isn't the place to discuss it. But 1. I don't think you or I should be the folks to define who is or isn't a "reporter." It feels very presumptuous. I will say that one of the MacArthur girls has "reporter" in her job description now at an NPR station. Again - if you look at the story that was produced it was not about how the two reporters changed. The piece speaks for itself. And I can confidently tell you that while 'feedback' did impact that project - it didn't impact this particular story. This look into language was one of three mini-documentaries they wanted to produce and they discussed it with me before their pitch ever went live. They didn't get to the other two because some of the 'feedback' included veiled threats. I don't doubt that the two reporters did change from the MacArthur series (I would change too if the threats had been aimed at me). However, the feedback didn't impact the story they produced nor was the story they produced about them. I think the other two stories would have equally been great had the comments on their project not gotten as personal as they did. Meanwhile: I see no reason to assume that these two reporters going to the WBC are going to write about how "We changed."
on: Peeling Back the Westboro Baptist Church's Monster Mask |
July 9, 2011 |
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@Bart - I understand your concern. (a. You should check out the final story from the MacArthur pitch. It actually ended up having almost NOTHING to do with the reporters and everything to do with how young people learn language: http://spot.us/pitches/380-stories-from-macarthur-park/story
Another important thing to keep in mind: Spot.Us is not a news organization or editorial force. Every reporter or news organization that creates a pitch on here - whether it's an NPR station (we've worked with dozens), newspapers or independent community organizations must stand on their own two feet.
Finally: I tend to agree with you re: explaining hate. I personally am interested in seeing what the reporters here produce. It seems they've gotten access into the WBC and while I am not sure if I could - they've already shown they can keep their cool discussing sensitive issues. I would love to learn something new about them that isn't shown in most coverage of this group. That's why I'm happy Spot.Us is trying to support this story.
on: Peeling Back the Westboro Baptist Church's Monster Mask |
July 8, 2011 |
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Excellent conversation here. @Jason - I understand your concerns but I would push back on the characterization of Spot.Us - "But I do worry that sites like Spot Us are only accelerating a trend where journalists make do with fewer resources, and are expected to do more with them."
The other option is exactly what you describe - to have this series not funded at all. While Spot.Us is not a grant making organization harvesting money of trees to shower upon journalists, it is wrong, in my opinion, to then criticize a good source of revenue for not solving all of journalism's woes. I'm sorry that I didn't event the fountain of youth as well ;)
Also Jason - you can click "Free Credits" and add $1 to the reporting project of your choice. I usually encourage people to take action rather than complain. Here's a simple action that takes under 3 minutes and creates real funds for a reporter. If everyone who complained about not enough money for journalists just did this - perhaps the problem would disappear ;)
on: How the Media Meltdown is Leaving Bay Area Residents in the Dark |
June 2, 2011 |
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Wanted to point out DataViz.org as a potential tool. Hopefully this comment works (live testing).
on: Help expose Massachusetts' biggest landlord: Boston Housing Authority |
February 22, 2011 |
Debate will stop@All - I'm afraid this thread has deteriorated. If we want to discuss the merits of a persons work - fine. But this site/thread is NOT to attack individuals. I'm afraid that's what has happened on both parties. People unfairly attacking and accusing Glynn of things - something I will not stand for. Glynn worked very hard and did a great job. If you think you can do better - GREAT! Go do better! Do not comment anonymously attacking him as an individual. Similarly - we have no idea who Sandy or John are. They are ghosts bumping in the night. To the extent they made some criticism - fine. Take it. Ignore anything you felt was overtly personal and let's all move on with our lives. It is pointless to try and attack the personhood of anonymous comments. This thread is over and future comments may be deleted if they are attacking individuals/off point, etc.on: BP's oil spill is causing health problems - the human story |
January 18, 2011 |
Noted and fixedAmanda Hickman rocks ;)on: Homicide Watch: A Digital Library for Court Documents in D.C.'s Murder Cases |
January 14, 2011 |
Part on IndeedModele and Matt. Excellent conversation. Regarding the paragraphs: Noted and we will put it in our que. We've known about this for awhile (blushes of embarrassment) but nobody has 'commented' on it before - so we just kept it on the backburner. I'll see what our development schedule looks like and see if we can bring this back up. PARTY ON!on: How to Vote with Confidence in San Francisco's November 2010 Election |
October 21, 2010 |
Great idea!Jason That is a great idea. I have the same sentiment as Brandon. Yea, it's fun - but it truly is one of the ways we have a "relationship" with bats. If that turns into a curiosity about their health in the eco-system - even better. Perhaps that will be a Halloween week newsletter. Thanks!on: The Race to Save America's Bats |
October 20, 2010 |
Thanks MattGlad you like how it all comes together. But we still have a long way to go to help Genevieve. If you know other folks that might be willing to take a few moments to fill out the sponsored survey, please spread the word.on: The Human and Historic Cost of Harlem's Makeover |
October 8, 2010 |
A comment/correction left to Spot.UsThe article incorrectly states that "Kennedy’s memory resurfaced after the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) asked to turn the hotel into a public school. The Los Angeles Conservancy was outraged and pushed to preserve the hotel and make it a historical landmark. Ultimately LAUSD won." In fact, the Los Angeles Conservancy very much wanted to see a school on the site. The difference was that we wanted the district to reuse the iconic hotel building as a school rather than tear it down and build the pseudo-replica that's there now. Using the historic hotel as a school would have provided a truly unique and inspirational learning environment. But the district wasn't interested. Jessica Burns Communications Coordinator Los Angeles Conservancyon: In the City of Angels, a fixation with morbid death scenes exists |
October 7, 2010 |
No - thank you!Glynn The kudos should go to you. We are just happy to do our part. But you are the one going after the story.on: BP's oil spill is causing health problems - the human story |
September 9, 2010 |
And the next step@Joann Indeed - that's what Ed is proposing to do. The point of Spot.Us is to put up a question, which Ed has done, and begin to investigate. You are 100% correct that there could be an explanation. The point is that we don't know and should start looking into it. I'm sure you can value an investigation rather than mere assumption.on: Should a City Clerk Be Paid $106,988? |
August 24, 2010 |
What an interesting questionWow... this is a really interesting question. I never really thought of this before. I would be curious to know this myself. Thanks for pointing out a potential conflict of safety/money.on: Nothing |
April 15, 2010 |
Comments DeletedA note: Certainly the video Wikileaks put out is going to stir conversation and we encourage that. We will not hesitate to delete comments that use inappropriate language or threaten another commenter. Please keep the conversation constructive and on topic.on: Help WikiLeaks Release More Classified U.S. Military Footage of Civilian Killing in War |
April 7, 2010 |
A tip - not a pitchThis is actually not a pitch - but a tip. A suggested story idea that the tip creator thinks somebody else should look into. We've had some tips turned into pitches.on: Nothing |
March 23, 2010 |
Response to ShirinCan be found in this blog post from Chris: http://spot.us/pitches/369-classrooms-on-life-support-lausd-first-graders-teachers-walloped-by-budget-cuts/posts/341on: LAUSD under siege: The View from the 1st Grade Classrooms |
March 13, 2010 |
Sunlight is a disinfectant.Robert: I can understand your sentiment. I (David Cohn, the founder of Spot.Us) am an alumni of the U.C. system and believe greatly in public education. But that is precisely why this investigation should be happening. Turning our head to potential abuse is worse than the abuse itself. A journalists role is to explore the truth - even if the truth hurts. Sunlight is often the best disinfectant. on: Investor’s Club: How the UC Regents Spin Public Funds into Private Profit |
January 18, 2010 |
Even more good linksThanks Mary Mad: I actually just posted this earlier today which has links about the UC system including the one above. "The University of California - Tuition, Applications and an Uncertain Future." on: Investor’s Club: How the UC Regents Spin Public Funds into Private Profit |
January 15, 2010 |
