An explanation of Spot.Us for reporters. How and why to use it.

1. Spot.Us
For Reporters
How and why to use it.

2. A Freelancers Marketplace
Journalism that counts
•Pitch the public to support your work.
AND
•Pitch multiple editors at a time.
•Build your online presence to garner
more work in the future.

3. A Freelancers Marketplace
Journalism that matters
•Report stories you are passionate
about.
•Build a new connection with
readership.
•Help create and support a
community.

4. What Pitches Work best?
•Stories that invoke a sense of civic good.
Public service journalism returns!!!
•Giving a community news/information that
would otherwise remain hidden.
FOIA the local university for fun ;)
•Relates to or has potential to build a
community of support.
Be an honest reflection...

5. On Creating a Pitch
Click “start a story” (it’s that easy to start)
•Give us the nut graph. Why should we care?
•Create a YouTube video (example).
•Story telling is your greatest asset.
Show your passion and expertise.
They are funding you as well as the story.
Never hesitate to contact info[at]spot[dot]us

6. On Creating a Pitch
It’s the details that’ll make you shine
•A compelling Spot.Us profile.
•Link to a personal website/blog in the
pitch. We want to know who you are!
•Show examples of your reporting.
•Include any pre-reporting.

7. Pitch News Orgs too!
Spot.us can work with news publishers
•SendEspeciallytraditional editors orrelationship
pitch to publishers
if you already have a
•If they fund just 50% of your pitch....
We will let them publish it first!
You get a great byline
With a shrinking freelance budget - this
will make your pitch more enticing.

8. How to be Successful!!
The “community” in community funded reporting
•Partner with bloggers, nonprofits, news
civic organizations,
organizations.
•Identifyemails andaudienceare the best way to reach out.
target
Personal phone calls
•Get social
Facebook, Twitter, list-serves and other usual suspects. Start
within your own networks and move out.
Be creative and have fun with this part. You are
working for the public and they love you for it.

9. Good Stuff Potential
•Content could be published in multiple
places - giving you a connection to more
editors and more work.
•If a news organization ever refunds
original donors - the community will
love you and probably fund your
NEXT pitch too!

10. Did you know that...
•You can browse community
tips for story ideas?
•You can apply to be a fact-
checker, entitled up to 10% of
what a pitch raises.
Never hesitate to contact info[at]spot[dot]us

11. Never give up, never surrender
ONWARD!!!!!!!