Odd Lots This Is What Happened When They Tried To Fix Journalism Using Blockchain
Sep 24, 2020
Maria Bustillos, the founding editor of Popula and co-founder of Civil, discusses her ambitious attempt to revolutionize journalism through blockchain technology. She reflects on the vision behind Civil and the lessons learned from its challenges in funding newsrooms. Topics include the potential for micropayments to enhance reader engagement, the complexities of cryptocurrency transactions, and the hurdles facing new journalism models in today's landscape. Bustillos also shares insights on the Brickhouse Co-op's efforts to create a sustainable platform for independent journalism.
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Unintentional Journalism Career
- Maria Bustillos's interest in the internet and entrepreneurial pursuits led her to journalism.
- Her critical blog post about the movie Avatar unexpectedly launched her writing career.
Blockchain for Journalism
- Maria Bustillos saw blockchain's potential for journalism early on, focusing on its ability to create incorruptible records.
- This aligns with her interest in archiving and ensuring the integrity of information.
First News Story on Blockchain
- Bustillos committed the first full-text news story to the Ethereum blockchain, focusing on Barack Obama's birth records.
- This act demonstrated the technology's potential for creating tamper-proof records.