This document describes Retrospective News, a hypothetical news paradigm encompassing production, distribution, and funding methods. The paradigm aims to support accountability journalism, citizen participation, and open access.

Summary

A retrospective news medium is an organization that bestows a continuing stream of awards, each with a monetary component, on the producers of the best pieces of journalism it finds, shortly after each piece is published.  A retrospective news medium does not directly produce news.  Instead, it rapidly bestows funding and recognition on a range of independent producers whose work meets the standards it upholds.

Accountability Journalism

A primary aim of the paradigm is to provide a revenue stream for accountability journalism.  To this end, retrospective news media organizations should be controlled by reputable journalists, and awards should be disbursed according to journalistic standards.  This arrangement ensures that financing will go to those forms of reporting whose production is currently at risk.

Open Access to News
 
A second goal is to promote open access to, and widespread distribution of, news and information of public interest and importance.  Under a retrospective paradigm, producers cede some control over how news media choose to republish, cite, or otherwise promote their work.  This funds an open-access environment in which stories are linked, and even copied, by multiple media.  As more retrospective funding bodies emerge, increased linking and copying translates into more, rather than less revenue for producers, without sacrificing open access or widespread distribution.

Cooperation between Journalists and Citizens

A third goal of the paradigm is to promote cooperation between established news organizations and active citizens in the production of journalism.  Retrospective financing is not contingent upon a prior agreement between the news medium and the producer.  Therefore, independent projects, temporary collaborations, and early-stage ventures are eligible for funding without requiring approval from existing publishers in order to start work.  This fosters an environment that promotes and rewards work from a range of independent producers, including both professional and citizen journalists, and
combinations.

Audience Appeal

A fourth goal is to attract a wide audience to the journalism featured by retrospective news media.  This is only feasible if retrospective news media are controlled by reputable journalists backed by significant funding bodies, such as philanthropic foundations and advertisers.  Furthermore, in order to sustain an audience, award results must be rapidly determined and published, as an integral part of the daily or weekly news cycle.