Remi Manna

Crowdfunded Journalism

Professor Zammarelli

May 3, 2019

Crowdfunded journalism has fairly recently been introduced into the media world. In my

opinion this has to do with the growth of technology, and specifically, the growth of media. The

article explains that crowdfunded journalism is dependent on communication with its audience.

Without the audience, a story or publication would not have funding, and therefore would not

exist. The interviewees explained that 25% - 30% of their work consisted of communicating with

their audience. This can only be possible with the emergence of new communication

technologies and mediums.

Crowdfunded journalism it is a very democratic idea. I think that this type of journalism

is what was intended for the profession in the first place. It is literally a part of our constitution.

We are entitled to Freedom of the Press. The traditional business model for journalism has

implications. Journalists might not get to write a story they want to, it can be changed by editors,

and they are controlled by a higher power. In other words, their work is based on hierarchy, and

that work might not be completely reliable if it is influenced by money. I think this is another

reason why crowdfunded journalism works. People are smart enough to know that the

information they get from publications who take money can be skewed based on who is in

power. With crowdfunded journalism it is just the writer and the people. It is a liberating way to

approach journalism. It gives the people back the power and gives the journalist autonomy. In
other words, it creates transparency. I would even say it puts the romance back into the

profession. Taking into account that there are flaws such as how this type of funding can be

sustained in the long run, and journalists have to take on different jobs, I do believe that

crowdfunded journalism will gain more traction. I think this is especially true in the US where

there is a such an aggressive political climate and everyone talks about “fake news”. People want

to be told the truth. They always have, but now they are more skeptical. They want to be able to

believe their publications and understand their motives. They don't want their journalist to write

stories because their boss told them to, they want stories written for the good of the people. A

famous example of the traditional model causing problems for journalists is the Boston Globe

and the Catholic Church. The church had so much money and influence, that the globe had a lot

of trouble with that story.

I think if crowdfunded journalism can work in the short term, it might be especially

beneficial for things like elections. Overall, I think that crowdfunded journalism has a place in

the industry, and even if it evolves, it will challenge other publications to be better and have

integrity.