At Spot.Us we are trying to pioneer "community funded reporting." But the concept is owned by nobody. Anyone can do it, as my last post "community funded reporting in Arizona" pointed out.

Spot.Us is a platform that is trying to build out the tools so that independent reporters can easily crowdfund. But there are some tools already out there.

And using those tools Daniel Doyle has almost raised $580 to continue coverage of a criminal justice case in South Carolina.

Nick Martin is doing it in Arizona. Bonnie is doing it in North Field.

Can the SF Chronicle work this route with a freelancer? What about Mother Jones with a Washington Correspondent?

We haven't even started to scratch the surface.