Our annual December fundraiser has arrived.
As friends of ChaunceyDevega.com and Indomitable know, this project is a labor of love. I learn so much from all of you. Your support has also provided me opportunities to share and learn that I otherwise would never have imagined several years ago.
My work online consists of Chaunceydevega.com and the podcast known as The Chauncey DeVega Show. While the Right-wing media and its disinformed public believe that there is some vast "liberal conspiracy"--a conspiracy that I would like to know about so I can access some of its supposedly limitless resources--supporting my work (and that of others), this is of course not true.
I am not compensated for my work here at Chaunceydevega.com or the podcast. Nor am I paid for the various TV or radio interviews that I occasionally participate in.
I have been given numerous offers to run advertisements and paid for content here at Chaunceydevega.com and for the podcast known as The Chauncey DeVega Show. I have declined such offers because I want to maintain my independence and freedom.
When I do the twice a year fundraising drive, I like to offer some reflections and plans/hopes for the future.
This project will reach approximately 4 million total pageviews since it began in 2007. Those numbers are approximate of course. Many sites do much more than our several thousand views a day. Some much less. But, the reach of what we have done here is very out-sized: many of the conversations and pieces that I have featured here, at Salon, and Alternet, have, usually without attribution, been picked up by the mainstream news media and other actors.
In short, Chaunceydevega.com and Indomitable have an influence far beyond what I thought possible when the project began.
The podcast known as The Chauncey DeVega Show has now completed almost 90 episodes. I have appeared on radio and TV shows as Ring of Fire TV, Thom Hartmann, Mark Malloy, and others this year. I am currently in conversation about expanding that reach even further. I write several pieces a week--almost all original content, as I rarely feature guest authors or links--here at the site. This requires a great amount of time and discipline. On average, these tasks require at least 15 or more hours a week to complete.
Future plans. Encouraged by the requests from friends and fans of my various writing, podcast, and other work, I would like to develop a Youtube/video podcast in the near future. Instead of waiting for opportunities to appear as a guest on TV and elsewhere, I believe that I could easily do a weekly online show that features news analysis and commentary. I am still sorting out the technical details with some folks who have experience with these matters. But, I think we can make it happen.
The monies from this December fundraiser will go to buy a decent video camera, lighting, get some logos and graphics professionally done, and a basic green screen setup. I am also going to invest in a redesign of the site so that it will better incorporate and present the content. I am also practical. Some portion of the monies will go to subsidize my annual Christmas plane ticket to see Mother DeVega, recharge the batteries from a stressful year with a nice and indulgent meal, and buy a bottle of fancy cologne.
The twice a year annual fundraiser is a great help. The symbolic gesture is so very meaningful; the material support is a great help too, as there are opportunity costs and other expenses that come with the good number of hours that Chaunceydevega.com aka Indomitable and The Chauncey DeVega Show require to maintain on a weekly basis.
If you can and are willing please do throw some gold or silver into the collection pile during our annual December fundraiser. You can do so by clicking on the Paypal link on the right hand sidebar of the site.
I have set an arbitrary amount for this fundraiser and will pull the begging bowl back in once that sum is reached. Hopefully, as in previous years, we can have a successful fundraiser.
As a thank you for the kind support and donations, as I did last year I have some special guests lined up for this month's episodes of The Chauncey DeVega Show.
Thank you again for your kindness and support during the fundraiser and throughout the year.
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