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OBJECTIVE
Alexis Madrigal will write a feature article on California's biofuels usage
TERMS

If we reach exactly $250, then we will give money to: Alexis Madrigal

THE PITCH

Read more on the Spot.us wiki.

Topic: Energy
Short Description: California’s biofuels usage is expected to jump nearly 600 million gallons over the next couple of years, but the ethanol supply is already stretched to its limits. Almost all of California’s ethanol runs through a single terminal. If there were a disruption at that terminal - via accident or intent - the state’s gasoline infrastructure could grind to a halt. And even with that terminal, there are serious questions about whether the terminal could meet demands.
Proposed deliverables: 1,500-2,000 feature article, with accompanying photographs of the current ethanol terminal in Carson, California and a proposed new terminal being built by Primafuel in Sacramento
Deadline: End of July, 2008

ORGANIZER
David_square
David Cohn
Envelope message Launched 5 months ago
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You've Enabled Community Funded Reporting!

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David_square
David Cohn started this discussion on Sep 5, 2008

Helllo Spot.Us Supporters!!!!

About one month ago we formed a little group that funded Alexis Madrigal’s reporting on biofuel usage in California. It was the first ever example of “community funded reporting” organized by Spot.Us – I can’t thank you enough.

We know it goes against the immediate gratification of the web – but I’m proud to finally announce that you can read the full investigation online.

  • On Spot.Us: http://blog.spot.us/2008/09/04/changing-locomotion/

The full investigation has also been republished over the course of the week at Gas2.org, EcoLocalizer, and Celsias.com.

The reporting also caught the eye of: BioFuel Digest, Huffington Post and countless others.

  • On BioFuel Daily: http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/04/three-part-series-on-california-ethanol-mandate-part-three-follows-1-billion-gallons-of-ethanol-from-iowa-to-the-golden-state/
  • On HuffingtonPost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/ethanol-in-california-how_n_123827.html

Together we’ve made journalism happen and have done a small part to keep our democracy strong by informing the public. For Spot.Us – this group has set a precedent that is already been followed.

Spot.Us has also successfully funded a reporter who will fact-check political advertisements for 10 weeks preceding the local SF Election.

This effort (and our fundraising for the ethanol story) caught the attention of the NY Times!!!

  • http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/weekinreview/24kershaw.html

We are ONLY $20 shy of funding another environmental investigation – into California’s cement industry and how they can stay in business while trying to reduce their c02 output!!!!

  • details here: http://wiki.spot.us/cement

As we get more success stories from spot.us – more reporters are creating pitches about important issues. Just this week we launched our 4th and final pre-beta pitch – looking into how the Bay Area will cope with the growing elderly population.

  • Details on that pitch here: http://wiki.spot.us/longevity

Bottom line – the ethanol investigation was a history making event for spot.us. It would have been impossible without you joining us, believing in us and helping us move forward. Thank you!!!!!

David Cohn
Director Spot.us

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You've Enabled Community Funded Reporting!!!!

Post Reply

David_square
David Cohn started this discussion on Sep 5, 2008

Helllo Spot.Us Supporters!!!!
*About one month ago we formed a little group that funded Alexis Madrigal’s reporting on biofuel usage in California. It was the first ever example of “community funded reporting” organized by Spot.Us – I can’t thank you enough.
*We know it goes against the immediate gratification of the web – but I’m proud to finally announce that you can read the full investigation online.

Links:
*On Spot.Us:
*On Gas2.org:
*On Celsias:
*The reporting also caught the eye of: BioFuel Digest, Huffington Post and countless others..
*On BioFuel Daily: http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/04/three-part-series-on-california-ethanol-mandate-part-three-follows-1-billion-gallons-of-ethanol-from-iowa-to-the-golden-state/
*On Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/ethanol-in-california-how_n_123827.html

*Together we’ve made journalism happen. In doing so, we’ve done a small part to help keep our democracy strong by informing the public. This group has set a precedent that has been followed up.

*Spot.Us has also successfully funded a reporter who will fact-check political advertisements for 10 weeks preceeding the local SF Election.

*This effort (and our fundraising for the ethanol story) caught the attention of the NY Times!!!
*http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/weekinreview/24kershaw.html

We are ONLY $20 shy of funding another environmental investigation – into California’s cement industry and how they can stay in business while trying to reduce their c02 output!!!!
*details here: http://wiki.spot.us/cement

*As we get more success stories from spot.us – more reporters are creating pitches about important issues. Just this week we launched our 4th and final pre-beta pitch – looking into how the Bay Area will cope with the growing elderly population.

*Details on that pitch here: http://wiki.spot.us/longevity

*Bottom line – the ethanol investigation was a history making event for spot.us. It would have been impossible without you joining us, believing in us and helping us move forward. Thank you!!!!!

David Cohn
Director Spot.us

View 4 replies Last 3 replies

  • 4 posts, 1 voice
    David_icon
    David Cohn replied on Sep 5, 2008

    You’ve Enabled Community Funded Reporting!!!!

    Helllo Spot.Us Supporters!!!!
    *About one month ago we formed a little group that funded Alexis Madrigal’s reporting on biofuel usage in California. It was the first ever example of “community funded reporting” organized by Spot.Us – I can’t thank you enough.
    *We know it goes against the immediate gratification of the web – but I’m proud to finally announce that you can read the full investigation online.

    Links:
    *On Spot.Us:
    *On Gas2.org:
    *On Celsias:
    *The reporting also caught the eye of: BioFuel Digest, Huffington Post and countless others..

    • Together we’ve made journalism happen. In doing so, we’ve done a small part to help keep our democracy strong by informing the public. This group has set a precedent that has been followed up.
    • Spot.Us has also successfully funded a reporter who will fact-check political advertisements for 10 weeks preceeding the local SF Election.

    We are ONLY $20 shy of funding another environmental investigation – into California’s cement industry and how they can stay in business while trying to reduce their c02 output!!!!

    • As we get more success stories from spot.us – more reporters are creating pitches about important issues. Just this week we launched our 4th and final pre-beta pitch – looking into how the Bay Area will cope with the growing elderly population.
    • Bottom line – the ethanol investigation was a history making event for spot.us. It would have been impossible without you joining us, believing in us and helping us move forward. Thank you!!!!!
    • David Cohn
    • Director Spot.us

  • 4 posts, 1 voice
    David_icon
    David Cohn replied on Sep 5, 2008

    I really have to make a complaint to ThePoint.

    I just want to be able to make line breaks. I shouldn’t have to test it like this.

  • 4 posts, 1 voice
    David_icon
    David Cohn replied on Sep 5, 2008

    You’ve Enabled Community Funded Reporting!!!!

    Helllo Spot.Us Supporters!!!!

    About one month ago we formed a little group that funded Alexis Madrigal’s reporting on biofuel usage in California. It was the first ever example of “community funded reporting” organized by Spot.Us – I can’t thank you enough.
    *We know it goes against the immediate gratification of the web – but I’m proud to finally announce that you can read the full investigation online.

    Links:

    Together we’ve made journalism happen. In doing so, we’ve done a small part to help keep our democracy strong by informing the public. This group has set a precedent that has been followed up.

    Spot.Us has also successfully funded a reporter who will fact-check political advertisements for 10 weeks preceding the local SF Election.

    This effort (and our fundraising for the ethanol story) caught the attention of the NY Times!!!
    *http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/weekinreview/…

    We are ONLY $20 shy of funding another environmental investigation – into California’s cement industry and how they can stay in business while trying to reduce their c02 output!!!!
    *details here: http://wiki.spot.us/cement

    As we get more success stories from spot.us – more reporters are creating pitches about important issues. Just this week we launched our 4th and final pre-beta pitch – looking into how the Bay Area will cope with the growing elderly population.

    Details on that pitch here: http://wiki.spot.us/longevity

    Bottom line – the ethanol investigation was a history making event for spot.us. It would have been impossible without you joining us, believing in us and helping us move forward. Thank you!!!!!

    David Cohn
    Director Spot.us

Post Reply

General Discussion

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Anonymous_user_square
Anonymous started this discussion on Jul 3, 2008

Just getting the ball rolling and providing David Cohn some support for his excellent idea.

View 6 replies Last 3 replies

  • 6 posts, 4 voices
    David_icon
    David Cohn replied on Jul 12, 2008

    ALRIGHT WE DID IT!!!!

    Stay tuned for more updates. Alexis (the reporter) and I are (probably) going to use a tumblr blog to let you all know about the reporting as it happens and keep you up to date on the investigation.

    It seems “community funded reporting” works. I think the internet lends itself to distributing the cost of journalism.

    Here’s where community funded reporting doesn’t fit well with the internet: there’s no instant gratification. The article won’t happen overnight. But you can rest assured the following.

    1. It will happen in a timely manner. I see that as my job. But I also assume that you would all agree that quality is more important than speed.

    2. We will find a way to update you all about how the investigation takes place (stay tuned for a URL).

    3. This will be published. Either at EcoLocalizer (who put down $25) or some other environmental news publisher.

    For now. THANK YOU!!!!!

  • 6 posts, 4 voices
    Jed-head-300_icon
    D Jedidiah Sundwall replied on Jul 13, 2008

    Awesome! Looking forward to the report.

  • 6 posts, 4 voices
    David_icon
    David Cohn replied on Jul 17, 2008

    The latest update: http://blog.spot.us/2008/07/17/alexis-madrigal-…

    All future updates on the reporting will appear here: http://blog.spot.us/category/spot-reporting/

    BEST AND MANY THANKS TO ALL!!!

Post Reply

First, thanks to all the members of the campaign for...

Post Reply

Anonymous_user_square
Anonymous started this discussion on Jul 13, 2008

First, thanks to all the members of the campaign for their generosity and faith. I’ll do my best to make sure you’re rewarded with some quality reporting. Second, I’m very excited to be a part of the proof-of-concept for community-funded journalism. The second I heard about Spot.us, I knew I had to be involved.

The wheels of the investigation started turning this morning. Emails started going out, phone calls scheduled.

Dave and I are meeting this week, so expect the first updates by the end of the week, a kind of reporter’s note/scrap book. I’m a big believer in transparent journalism, so you’ll be able to come along for the ride, peak over my shoulder, and look through my (Flip videocamera’s) eyes. It’s going to be exciting! Or at least as exciting as a rail terminal can be.

View 2 replies Last 1 reply

  • 2 posts, 1 voice
    Anonymous_user_icon
    Anonymous replied on Jul 13, 2008

    “Anonymous” is actually short for my full name, Alexis Madrigal. Somehow I set my ThePoint account up to show anonymously. Apologies for any confusion.

Post Reply