Help IONTB Enhance News Coverage

Help IONTB enhance its coverage in Tampa Bay

It was just over three years ago, in March of 2013, that the idea of starting this website was born. It was a just another Sunday afternoon when I came upon a large building fire that destroyed a candle warehouse in Dunedin. I began to photograph and record a video of the fire and later that day posted it on my personal YouTube account. The posting generated media interest along with that of the first responders that worked the incident that day.

The name IONTB, Eye On Tampa Bay, was created and a logo designed. Originally it was going to be a small site to document a small number of incidents highlighting the tireless work being done by our first responders in the Tampa Bay Area. Photos free of watermarks have always been supplied free of charge to our local first responders and our public safety agencies in the area. It was hopeful that occasionally, video and/or photos could be sold to media outlets in the area.

This site is not a huge operation but rather run by a staff of one with occasional help from a few other bloggers in the area as I do work full-time. It is not unusual to receive large amounts of messages daily and all possible attempts are made to respond in a timely manner.

It is the contributions of the followers that has allowed the endeavor to flourish. The delivery of news needs to morph into more consumer driven content not content that people are forced to endure which they wait for the 45 second segment somewhere during 6PM broadcast. This endeavor has proven that most people do not want to wait 3 hours to go home and tune in at 5 or 6 PM to watch the news. Our lives have changed and social media has antiquated the current news delivery method.

The large media outlets report on a story and move on to the next. For many varied reasons, people want more information than that which is being provided currently. Nothing can beat the boots on the ground seeing incidents unfold with a story being told with photos and video. This is why I hope many of you enjoy this site. The photos and video help tell the story and are never posted for the shock value at another’s expense.

In just over three years, IONTB has become something that I never envisioned it would. It was become a social media force in the area with over 20 thousand Facebook followers and well over 2 thousand twitter followers. Also a website that becomes so bogged down when an article is posted that the hosting company repeatedly temporarily suspends my account. It is not unusual for the Facebook site to reach 200 to 250 thousand people weekly.

IONTB still has a number roadblocks in its way during its daily operation. The roadblocks become frustrating at times which many times affects the ability to fully report the story. Social media has become a very popular way that many agencies disseminate information especially during incidents. Not being viewed as a media outlet, IONTB has had to find a way to scour the web utilizing multiple techniques to filter out this content. It may be content on social media or agency websites but many times this information is delayed or non-existent. Many local agencies have not figured out how they can effectively utilize social media for their benefit and to build relationships with their community. Some agencies like Largo Police are not overly active on social media but have also been very gracious to IONTB when contacted. Other agencies have not been so gracious and in my opinion should re-evaluate how they communicate with their community.

One must understand how news is disseminated to the “mainstream media” in this area. For over a decade, public information officers (PIOs) from Hernando, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, De Soto, Highlands, Hardee and Sarasota have been utilizing a Media Alert site to submit their information. This information is in turn rapidly emailed to subscribers which includes all major news operations. Unfortunately, the Media Alert system is neither free nor cheap.

Not having access to Media Alert many times makes it difficult to follow up on a story such as additional investigative detail or names of parties involved. Reporting from the scene is easy, it is the information flow afterwards that is problematic. I then must yield the story to the local media to pick up where I can go no further.

The huge issues they have is many times they just copy and paste the information on the press release and all news outlets have the same content. The press release should be utilized as a supplemental form of information not the only source and it many times contains errors. Additional invaluable information disseminated via Media Alert is the location and contact information of the PIO during unfolding events or notification times and locations of press conferences.

I have been in contact with Media Alert to discuss the cost that would be charged to IONTB for the service. It is similar to what I was quoted about 2 ½ years ago but completely out of reach financially. I now believe that this cost is no longer out of reach with so many followers that appreciate what IONTB has to offer.

Initially, I had hoped that some money could be generated from selling content to the media. Early on, the media acknowledged IONTB content which was provided for free to them as long as credit was given to IONTB. This lasted for a short period of time and now they no longer acknowledge our existence. I will leave the reason for that to your imagination!

Only two television news outlets have paid me for my content in the past 3 years and it was only once each. It filled up the gas tank a couple times but obviously not the path forward for IONTB. The stations, assignment desks, and producers were recently purged from my Twitter account as they all admit they closely monitor my feed. I will no longer volunteer free information to them and focus it to the loyal followers to whom this site was initially created. IONTB has been acknowledged nationwide much more so than it has by our own local media outlets. Amazing how the media outlets pay the freelance guy next to me at a scene but tell me they don’t pay freelance reporters.

I have never been a fan of crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe for many reasons. Many times you cannot figure out what the money is used for or even if it has been set up by someone that going to route the money to the victim or family. I see so much fraud and abuse and have been very selective in sharing many of these sites and have even removed a few from my site. Unfortunately, this hampers the raising of funds for those truly in need.

I have been contemplating creating a GoFundMe account for quite some time. The intent is not to make money rather to help fund this growing endeavor. Below, I have attached a wish list of items that would greatly enhance the news coverage. It would also allow me to expand coverage to surrounding Counties.  

Based on the amount of funds raised items will be checked off and completed.

-Media Alert (the first $1500 would cover this expense     for 1 year)
-Enhanced website hosting and possible App
development iOS and Android
-Increased cellular data plan allowing more live video
-Equipment – Wireless mics, Camera
equipment, cables, batteries, camera maintenance
-Gas and car expenses
-Business Registration and Organization Memberships 
-Public Information Requests
-Time, Energy and sleep deprivation
-Computer expenses such as storage space and video rendering

In the past week, I have been provided with a trial subscription to Media Alert. In my opinion, it has allowed me to provide information in a quicker and more comprehensive manner.

Thank you everyone for your continued support in the past few years. I believe that his site provides information that the large media outlets just cannot provide based upon the way they are structured. This endeavor is based upon consumer driven news not laced with political agendas, commercials, subscriptions or answering surveys in order to read an article.

Please consider a monetary contribution to continue and improve IONTB. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Contributions of $50 or more are eligible to receive a free embroidered IONTB ball cap or T-shirt. Orders will be placed periodically and may take many weeks for delivery. Please provide IONTB with an email ([email redacted]) and I will email photos of the hats and shirts so you may choose the color and product of your choice.

Thank you
Steven