All Networks | Bay Area | Los Angeles

Mandatory Reading for All Reporters

Also See FAQ's for Reporters,

Spot.Us is a new marketplace that is constantly learning how the public will value journalism. As such - we suggest the following as a guide to figuring out how much a reporter should ask while pitching the public.

1. Investigative Report

$600-$1,400 - Most are $1,000
Roughly 60 hours of work at a rate of $10-$25 based on level of experience
Deadlines: Three months to fundraise; two
months to report.

• Involves research and original/enterprise reporting that is time consuming.
• Requires expertise in subject matter.
• The story is crafted and the writing has clarity and is organized into scenes.
• Extensive blogging about the reporting throughout the process of reporting.
• Multimedia rich - a part of telling the story.
• A ground upon which new community is built.
• Provides new information that educates and informs.

2. Enterprise Report

$400-$950 Most are $550 Deadlines:
Roughly 40 hours of work at a rate of $10-$25 based on level of experience
Ten weeks to fundraise; one month to report.

• Involves multiple interviews with experts or involved subjects.
• On-site reporting. Interviews conducted in several different places.
• Persistent blogging through the fundraising and reporting process.
• Uses multimedia to enhance story.
• Requires good knowledge of subject matter.
• Works with and bolsters an existing community.
• Provides resources to information that can educate and inform.

3. Beat Report

$350-$500, Most are $350
Roughly 25 hours of work at a rate of $10-$25 based on level of experience
Deadlines: Two months to fundraise; one month to report.

• Minimal use of multimedia.
• Blogging is encouraged through the process of fundraising and reporting.
• Interviews conducted in person or on phone.
• Story of clean and crafted for clarity.

4. Quick Hit

$150-$350
Roughly 15 hours of work at a rate of $10-$25 based on level of experience
Deadline: One month to fundraise; two weeks to report. Note: Not preferred on Spot.Us.

• Does not require speciality knowledge.
• Help update an ongoing story and pushes it a little further.
• Uses links to help build the background.

More mandatory reading ;)

Spot.Us and Reporter Agreement

Note: This is separate from the legal contract that reporters agree to when creating a pitch. This is to lay out the expectations of Spot.Us and the reporter in our working relationship to fund good journalism.

Spot.Us will do the following:

• Provide any technical assistance necessary within reasonable expectations.
• Be available for consultation regarding the focus of your pitch.
• Add to the blogging efforts of pitches during the reporting process.
• Be available for consultation regarding the fundraising efforts for your pitch.
• Spot.Us fundraises for specific pitches - including yours as resources permit. (see reporters agree to #2)
• Assign a peer-review editor to assist the reporter. Editor is entitled to 10% of money raised.
• Deliver money raised to reporter/peer-review editor upon completion of reporting and receiving a w-9.

Reporters agree to the following:

• Maintain consistent communication via email, texts or calls, with Spot.Us.
• Blog throughout the process their reporting efforts.
• Help to promote story online and offline to civic groups and to pitch traditional news organizations.
• Agree to being filmed or do to a video for the purposes of marketing the story.
• Work collaboratively with an assigned peer-review editor. Reporter can reject first two assigned editors but third time is the charm ;)
• Upon acceptance of assignment (raised money) to do thorough, accurate and timely reporting.
• Rock out!