Draft Statement of Purpose

[Bill Lascher]

I actually did this on Tuesday, but the problem with doing things early is forgetting to actually send them when promised. That's why we're all deadline addicts! Anyhow, here's my take on the statement of purpose. I left some of the language intact from Tony's original and overhauled other areas based on our notes. I hope I didn't take too many liberties. I'm attaching it as a word doc and enclosing it following this sentence:

Purpose:

The recent decline of independent journalism threatens to leave the populace ill prepared for self-determination. As Oregonians make decisions about their lives and their society they will seek out compelling sources of information upon which to base their decisions, even as those sources fade in number and accuracy. Our goal is to draw public attention to information and stories about the public and private institutions, forces, and individuals impacting the lives of Oregonians. We will accomplish that goal through a nonprofit and nonpartisan media organization focused on providing high-quality investigative, analytical, and explanatory journalism online. We believe that great online journalism should provide what great print and broadcast journalism provide, while also making the best of what the web has to offer.

How we will provide great journalism:

Great journalism is brave, insightful and thorough. Great journalism hits hard. Great journalism takes many forms.

We will pursue great journalism through the following techniques:

Multimedia storytelling: We will combine audio, video, graphics and other technology to develop a rich sensory understanding of complex issues and stories, but we will also continue to value high-quality written, photographic, and audio narratives. We will aim to effectively tell compelling stories, often using multiple approaches to appeal to diverse audiences who absorb and process information in different ways.

Enhancing understanding: We will introduce topics through clear, accurate and rigorous reporting and repeatedly return to those topics, illustrate links among and between our stories and with outside sources, and provide relevant background information to offer our audiences deeper and more complex understanding of those topics.

Engaging Visitors: In addition to useful information about key issues, our site will offer ways to engage with that information more actively.  Stories on our website will appear alongside intuitive, customizable user interfaces and resources allowing visitors to derive ongoing, dynamic value by way of accessible and relevant public records and other data. Visitors will also find opportunities for civic participation through information about public meetings and events connected to our coverage.

The public will also be able to help create new knowledge. Those who access the site will be encouraged to offer suggestions for stories, to supply relevant information solicited by our journalists, and to comment and converse with others on published stories.

Our staff:

Our staff will be configured to competently deliver the following skills: editorial guidance and oversight, information gathering, written, visual and audio storytelling, quality control and accuracy, accounting, business development and strategy, data management and organization, technical maintenance and innovation.

How we will sustain ourselves:

We are prepared to explore a number of funding options, including: foundation support, individual large donations, member donations, underwriting (as opposed to advertising), the syndication of our content, and individually targeted and designed solicitations for support. We will also welcome partnerships with other print, broadcast and online
media organizations to help us better leverage our resources and disseminate our stories.

[Ethan Scarl]

Here's a markup of Bill's document, in Word's Track Changes mode.

 

I should add that Bill did an excellent job -- just be warned that I'm an inveterate wordsmither, so all 'changes' are suggestions to accept or reject.

 

    - Ethan

[Bill Lascher]

A wordsmither smithing a wordsmith. Excellent. Thanks Ethan.

I very likely won't be able to get my updated version up today but will shoot for tomorrow.

Bill Lascher
www.lascheratlarge.com