You can buy your newsmag subscription once you decide on the tradeoff between how much you want to spend and how much you want to save. It costs more for an annual subscription, but it costs more per issue for a shorter period.
But before the newsmag gets that far, it needs its initial capital. The same deal works for crowdfunding as for a subscription. You can pay more, and get more, or pay less and see how it goes.
What do you get for your crowdfunding contribution? A subscription to the newsmag, naturally, but since you’re helping us get off the ground, something more too. Some possibilities are obvious. A USB stick, a branded coffee mug, a tshirt. For extra generous contributions, perhaps a special, limited edition, print edition.
Then comes the tricky part. Contributors get their names listed, either online or in the special print edition. But should there be a provision for more than just a contributor’s name? A quarter or half-page panel, perhaps? Or a banner under a story in the online edition?
I’m not dogmatically opposed to advertising, but the original concept was a reader-funded publication. Does an NPR style sponsorship label dilute that concept?
