B.C. online magazine courts donations to cover election
Last Updated: Sunday, April 12, 2009 | 10:50 AM PT
CBC News
An online web magazine in British Columbia is collecting money from readers to fund its provincial election reporting.
The Tyee says people who donate can tell the magazine which election issues should get more coverage.
"Editors like to be the boss," said Tyee editor-in-chief and founder David Beers. "They want to figure out what the issues are and then find reporters that cover them. In this case, I'm turning the reins over a bit to our readers."
Beers said the Tyee was aiming for a total of $5,000, which would be enough to hire an extra reporter for each day of the election campaign.
Pledges are already nearing $7,000 and the donation drive ends April 14.
"We wanted to throw a lot more reporting power at the election," Beers said about the decision to go to the public. "What we were lacking were resources, just like the rest of the media right about now."
At the top of readers' requests for more coverage is the broad topic of "corruption," followed by environment, housing/poverty and education.
B.C. voters head to the polls May 12.



