A new digital magazine that aims to take a more analytic, in-depth and participatory approach to investigative journalism in Luxembourg has raised more than €150,000 in crowdfunding ahead of its launch in March 2018.
Journalists Christoph Bumb and Laurence Bervard, who previously worked for daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort, founded Reporter because they thought there was a need for a new type of media in Luxembourg: digital-only, independent, supported solely by readers, and involving the audience in the reporting process.
Bumb and Bervard set up a crowdfunding campaign for Reporter on 15 November to raise the amount needed to get started with hiring a small editorial team and developing a platform that would support reader participation.
Their goal was to have 1,000 supporters contributing a minimum of €150 each until 20 December, which covers the cost of a basic annual subscription to the magazine and allows them to read and comment on all stories published on the website, although people can also pledge a smaller amount without becoming subscribers.
Those pledging €300 or more receive additional access to a regular virtual editorial conference and free participation in events Reporter will host, such as roundtable discussions and workshops, as well as longer term subscriptions depending on the amount they contribute.
The money was raised less than two weeks later, on 28 November, and so far, 773 people have pledged €163,035 to support the new editorial initiative. The team has increased the goal to €200,000, with additional contributions going into development and expanding the editorial network of full-time staff and freelancers.
"It's less about the monopolisation of media ownership – that's a problem too – but [political independence] is one of the main reasons why people are contributing to the campaign."
Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:
https://www.scoop.it/t/luxembourg-europe/?&tag=Reporter.lu
"It's less about the monopolisation of media ownership – that's a problem too – but [political independence] is one of the main reasons why people are contributing to the campaign."
Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:
https://www.scoop.it/t/luxembourg-europe/?&tag=Reporter.lu