Donation Challenge: Let’s get CSG Behind the Seams fully funded

Dr Mark Bahnisch interviews Megan Baker outside Dalby. Photo: Pandora Karavan.

Perhaps serendipitously, LP readers who weren’t following the work Mark, Robert, Brian, myself and others including Pandora Karavan, John Quiggin and Roger Jones are doing on their collaboration with Crikey, Coal Seam Gas: Behind the Seams, saw some of the fruits of their labours when the Crikey website had some IT wobbles last week.

This is a project with which I am incredibly proud to be associated, and one that is definitely in the public interest. Particularly because of the deep research and the rich insights from a field trip to the Western Downs, I believe FAQ Research has succeeded, and continues to succeed in representing under-represented voices (Indigenous, “Blockies”, the socially excluded) and demystifying the claim and counter-claim that bedevil the myriad sides of the Coal Seam Gas debate.

Some great new stuff has been posted just in the last few days at The Wellhead, and there’s more to come.

It’s exactly the sort of research-based and grassroots citizen journalism LP readers often call for. But it is not free, and though there are some mighty fine and mightily generous exceptions, I’ve been disappointed more people here haven’t got behind the project.

People are always saying the MSM is too much about the horse race, and should be focused on issues, Well that’s what this is all about.

Here’s my challenge. To help fully fund the project (and it has cost a lot of money), I will contribute $300 more of my own money (I’ve already put in a grand), but *only* if LP readers can collectively contribute the $2875 the team needs.

The current fundraiser closes in 43 hours.

If 60 LP readers kick in $50, we’re just over!

Come on folks, quality citizen-based journalism is not a hobby, and I don’t like to see people having to make their rent payments late, having to fork out for $700 phone bills out of their own pocket, and having to pay for accommodation and car rental on field reporting on credit cards. We can do it! Let’s see everyone who has ever had a whine about the poor quality of mainstream journalism put their money where their mouth is! I have.

Please be generous. You can make your donation by PayPal or by credit or debit card here.