Crowdfunded Journalism: Meaning, Methods, Cases and Concerns

The global digital revolution driven by the internet and the World Wide Web has made room for many innovations including crowdfunding. And as this phenomenon spreads to the mass media industry, there is yet inadequate research done to explain the concept and the methods as well as highlight the cases and the growing concerns. This, essay, therefore, focuses on the meaning, methods, cases and concerns arising from crowdfunded Journalism. Through extensive literature search, six crowdfunding processes, eight cases and 12 classes of concern were identified. The paper highlights the emerging role of digital media in addressing changing aspects of Media Economics such as funding, ownership and control, especially in media industries seriously challenged by the digital revolution.