You remember our earlier series on the illegal ad hoardings in Bengaluru? These stories took our staff journalist Akshatha weeks to write. She asked for data from BBMP, who did not oblige. Her RTI applications were ignored. She made half a dozen trips to BBMP and the Information Commissioner to appeal. She met contractors and officials and spent days in getting them to respond. Then… every story she filed took days to review and edit.
Stories like these will eventually cost tens of thousands of rupees. Should we bother to do them at all?
There are great journalists in many media houses. But few have the mandate to spend the kind of time and effort that our team does. We don’t just jump into a story, collect a few quotes and summarise it. We immerse ourselves in the topics, observe, and research. That’s how our writers – both staff and citizens – have developed expertise and a body of knowledge on urban topics, and a “b.s. detector to cut through the spin”.
We follow a reader-funded model, just like great journalistic media across the world such as Guardian, Mother Jones, NPR and PBS do. Closer home, The Wire and NewsLaundry have adopted this model recently.
But unlike them, we have no other grants or other sources of income – we are 100% reader funded.
Twice a year, we reach out to you for donations – we have been subsisting on reader funding. Yes, subsisting is the word. We are only able to cover the bare bones cost, even as it keeps us independent from any sort of pressure.
But we don’t want to nag, clog your mailbox, or pressure you for time and attention in the face of so much else that needs to be done. So here is what we suggest to you:
A monthly donation, of any amount of your choice, will make it easier for you and for us. Think of it as the cost of a pizza (500 Rs) or a movie out (2000 Rs).
You could set up a standing instruction for a monthly electronic transfer through your bank account – details below. If you prefer another way, mail us at foundation@oorvani.in.
To pay one time through Credit card/Debit card/ Internet banking:
Note: For those who have made contributions in the last few weeks, thank you! We will be sending receipts in the next few weeks.
You are part of our Citizen Matters community and we have full faith that you will ensure this work continue,
Warm Regards,
Meera, Meenakshi, Shree, Satarupa, Nishanth and the entire team at Oorvani Foundation