The reporter’s toolbox

3

1. What is your project? [1 sentence]

A “reporter’s toolbox” mobile app with a suite of tools and resources to improve journalism, whoever practices it.

2. How will your project use mobile tools and approaches? [2 sentences]

We propose to build a mobile app for iOS and Android devices that places important practical tools and information in the pocket of every reporter and editor — guides to interviewing, writing, reporting and ethics; interactive tools to identify and save story ideas, to track assignments and to double-check their work for accuracy; quizzes to improve their knowledge; the latest news headlines about journalism; and other features.

3. Who will use it and why? [1 sentence]

Anyone engaging in journalism will find this app useful because it helps resolve some of their biggest pain points: like staying organized while juggling many tasks, increasing efficiency, maintaining accuracy as copy editing shrinks, and self-improving one’s skills and knowledge.

4. Please list three ways they would learn about your project.

The apps would be publicized by Poynter, through targeted email, on Poynter.org and NewsU, with social media and word of mouth.

5. What connections have you made, or will you make, with others [communities, organizations or networks] about your project? [2 sentences]

We will draw upon our successful relationship with iTunesU, where our podcasts have been downloaded millions of times and our faculty books have been featured prominently. We will also draw upon the expertise of the faculty and staff of The Poynter Institute and NewsU, as well as working journalists who would be the target audience.

6. What part of the project have you already built? [1-2 sentences, feel free to include links]

We’ve worked out some ideas and built a simple prototype as a proof of concept. But we expect to continue to add and refine ideas as we talk to more people and focus on smart design.

7. What does success for your project look like? [1-2 sentences]

Success is thousands of journalists across the world using this app daily to make their journalism better, more efficient, more accurate and maybe even more fun.

8. What resources do you need to succeed? [1-2 sentences]

Our primary need is funding, which would cover the costs of creating it and enable us to make this app a free download. We want it to be available to the largest possible audience and create maximum impact, instead of having to make it a profit-seeking venture that has advertising or requires a payment to download. 

Poynter has experience with this type of mobile app development. We worked with the Knight Foundation on building the Settle It! PolitiFact app that recently launched. And we developed our own Help! For Writers iPhone app.

Additional details:
Please list who is on your team: Jeff Sonderman, digital media fellow for the Poynter Institute; Wendy Wallace, grants coordinator for the Poynter Institute.
Expected number of months to complete project: 4 to 5 months.

Estimated Project Cost: $110,500

Name: Jeff Sonderman
Twitter: @jeffsonderman
Email address: jsonderman@poynter.org
Organization [if applicable]: The Poynter Institute for Media Studies
City: St. Petersburg, FL
Country: USA
How did you learn about the contest? Poynter has covered the news challenge and collaborated with the Knight Foundation for years.