Sam Eifling
Last week, the Arkansas Times announced it was collaborating with InsideClimate News of Brooklyn to deliver a definitive investigative report on the ExxonMobil oil spill in Mayflower.
Only problem: The publications say they don’t have the money to dedicate to the project. So they’ve turned to crowdfunding.
“This is a tremendously important story — and it’s been significantly under-reported,” Times Editor Lindsey Millar said on the paper’s blog. “Why? Small outlets like the Times can’t afford to devote a staffer to the story full time.”
InsideClimate News reported a similar situation.
If the two pubs reach their goal of about $25,000, they will send out Times contributor (and former Arkansas Business staff writer) Sam Eifling and InsideClimate writer Elizabeth McGowan to spend several months on the story.
The project is being funded through IOBY.org, a nonprofit website that focuses on environmental issues. As of Wednesday last week, the project had raised $7,715 of $26,535 needed. It has a three-month time limit.
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