GOAL
MISSION
To create a sustainable, non-profit news organization that engages the public, collaborates with other media, and produces the highest level of accountability and solutions-driven journalism in Kansas and Missouri.
To spur reforms in the public interest by shining light on wrongdoings and abuse by government, businesses and other powerful institutions through in-depth, solutions-driven journalism.
LOCAL JOURNALISM CRISIS
Over the past decade, the media industry in the U.S. changed drastically, resulting in the closure or consolidation of hundreds of newspapers. The number of newspaper journalists has been nearly halved. The reasons are myriad:
LOCAL IMPACT IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI
Where have newspapers disappeared since 2004?
KANSAS NEWSPAPERS
Gannett/GateHouse
The Augusta Daily Gazette
The Dodge City Daily Globe
The El Dorado Times
The Hays Daily News
The Hutchinson News
The Garden City Telegram
The Leavenworth Times
The McPherson Sentinel
The Newton Kansan
The Ottawa Herald
The Pittsburg Morning-Sun
The Salina Journal
The Topeka Capital Journal
The Wellington Daily News
McClatchy
The Wichita Eagle
Ogden Publishing
The Lawrence Journal World
The White Family
The Emporia Gazette
Kansas Publishing Ventures
Hillsboro Free Press
Newton Now
Hesston Record
McPherson News Ledger
5
Hutch News
18
Wichita Eagle
5
Salina Journal
Approximate number of journalists at select KS-circulated newspapers, February 2020
15
Lawrence
Journal-World
MISSOURI NEWSPAPERS
Gannett/GateHouse
The Boonville Daily News
The Carthage Press
The Columbia Daily Tribune
The Hannibal Courier-Post
The Kirksville Daily Express
The Macon Chronicle-Herald
The Neosho Daily News
The Rolla Daily News
The Springfield News-Leader
The Waynesville Daily Guide
Rust Communications
Dexter Statesmen
Marshall Democrat-News
Monett Times
Nevada Daily Mail
Sikeston Standard-Democrat
Southeast Missourian
McClatchy
The Kansas City Star
Lee Enterprises
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
CNHI
The Joplin Globe
80
St. Louis
Post-Dispatch
17
Springfield
News-Leader
9
Columbia
Tribune
Approximate number of journalists at select MO-circulated newspapers, February 2020
60
Kansas City
Star
NON-PROFIT AND DIGITAL MEDIA GROWTH
While legacy media declines, there is modest growth in the digital-native media sector.
DEFINING EDITORIAL SUCCESS
The Beacon’s reporting will highlight issues, propose solutions, and compel readers and leaders to take action.
Editorial success will not be defined by “clicks,” but instead by the impact of the journalism produced:
EARLY IMPACT
The Beacon started publishing earlier than planned in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONTENT STRATEGY
COVERAGE TOPICS
GOVERNMENT
ECONOMICS
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENT
EDUCATION
HEALTH CARE
*Subject to change with focus groups, engagement sessions
DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESS
HUB AND SPOKE MODEL FOR THE MIDWEST
We want to help connect our disparate geography. We’re starting in Kansas City, and plan to add reporters in different areas based on membership, geography and donor input. Examples:
MODELS
MEMBERSHIPS
The Colorado Sun
Denver, Colorado
Launched: September 2018
Seed funding: $1.68 million
COLLABORATION
Kentucky Center for
Investigative Reporting
Louisville, Kentucky
Launched: 2014
Seed funding: $600,000+
EVENTS
The Texas Tribune
Austin, Texas
Launched: 2009
Seed funding: $4 million
OPERATING BUDGET OVERVIEW
a slightly larger peer metro to Kansas City
ETHICS
Journalists must work to earn the trust of the public. The Beacon will be transparent about its reporting and ethical practices. Staff will:
As part of its transparency to readers, The Beacon will follow the Institute for Nonprofit News’ requirements to disclose its financial backers: No more than 5 percent of its annual budget will come from anonymous donations, it will post its 990 tax forms to the website, and it will publicly identify all donors who give more than $5,000.
DISTRIBUTION
After a few days, early access premium content will filter into the free core product.
SEED FUNDING
GRANTS
Until its own 501(c)(3) designation is approved, The Beacon is accepting grants and donations through a fiscal sponsor, the Kansas Newspaper Foundation, which takes a 3 percent cut for accounting costs. The Kansas Newspaper Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Kansas Press Association.
CROWDFUNDING
In order to gain community buy-in, The Beacon will kick-off its individual level contribution drive with an online crowdfunding campaign. The aim of the campaign is to give local readers an overview of the publication’s goals, a sense of community, and rewards for being an early supporter.
DONATIONS
The Beacon will accept donations, but that support must come with no strings attached or editorial influence. All donors giving more than $5,000 will be disclosed as part of the transparency pledge to readers. Early major donors will be considered Founding Members and will receive special recognition.
REVENUE
ASSOCIATION DISTRIBUTION
State press associations can pay for their members to have access to The Beacon’s content and permission to reproduce the work in local print newspapers and websites, with proper attribution.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP
The Beacon will not accept traditional advertising, but will accept corporate financial underwriting. Corporate sponsors can underwrite newsletters and special events, but have no say in editorial content.
MEMBERSHIP
Anyone can sign up to become a sustaining member of The Beacon through automatic monthly payments starting at $5 per month. Members will get various perks for different levels, including early access to stories and special events.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP
2020 ORGANIZATIONAL TIMELINE
Audience development manager hired — January
↓
Build Board of Directors & Announce Board — February
↓
Community Engagement Sessions for Feedback — January through March
↓
Early Soft Launch with COVID-19 Coverage — March
↓
Launch Founding Membership campaign — March
↓
Work with Freelancers on Stories — Ongoing
↓
Began Publishing Stories to Website (Not Just Newsletter) — May
↓
First full time reporter starts — June
↓
Reached 1,500 Newsletter Subscribers, 17% of Whom Donate
↓
Continue to Test and Grow Membership and Revenue Strategies
↓
Full Website Launch (Early Fall 2020)
LEGAL
Journalists get sued.
But more often, journalists sue government agencies in the public interest to gain access to public records.
The Beacon has secured a seasoned media attorney for pre-publication review and consultation, and will have additional legal resources through membership in the Kansas Press Association and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
Additionally, through our membership with INN, The Beacon has full media liability coverage for its staff and freelancers should it be the subject of a lawsuit.
The Board of Directors also has liability insurance offered through the organization.
Libel
Access to records
Source protection
Search and seizure
Defamation
Copyright infringement
Invasion of privacy
Recording restrictions
Inciting a riot
Obstruction of the peace
BIOGRAPHY
KELSEY RYAN is a data/investigative journalist and news entrepreneur. Before founding The Beacon, she worked at The Kansas City Star and was on the investigative team that was named a 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Public Service for its series on government transparency in Kansas.
Ryan began her career at The Joplin (Mo.) Globe the day after an EF-5 tornado devastated the city. She later worked at The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, covering health care, and later city government and investigations.
She also manages memberships and communications at Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers. In this role, she helps connect hundreds of independent news outlets across the U.S. to resources around sustainable business practices and community impact.
Ryan grew up in Newton, Kan., and graduated from Emporia State University, where she was editor of her college paper, The Bulletin. She is a member of Investigative Reporters & Editors, a board member on the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government, and frequently lectures at universities across Kansas and Missouri.