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OurLA.org is the public square for the 21st century. There is one goal: To create a public conversation where everyone can have a voice and the chance to be heard. The chance to hear others, to learn from experts, to review the facts, to expand awareness and connect to each other and find the common ground. It's about politics and lifestyle, about who we are and where we are going. It's about creating a more democratic society where we understand and know each other better, where we feel empowered to make our institutions better and to participate fully in helping ourselves and others to achieve their goals in a city so often divided by a multitude of issues. The Media Revolution: Help Create Change We are reaching out to you because we need your help financially and with reports and opinion articles on the issues you care about.
OurLA is the one place on the Internet where the concerns of residents of Los Angeles are brought together by citizen and professional journalists so we can be better informed and empowered to affect city policies, preserve and protect our neighborhoods, improve our schools and create better economic opportunities.
Since we launched this past summer we have generated our own stories on a wide range of issues from the city's pension scandal to the budget crisis, from planning policies to environmental concerns.
We've published reports from ordinary citizens that have gotten the attention of mainstream media and aggregated the work of numerous professional journalists and bloggers to help spark a healthier and better informed public conversation about the state of our city today and how to make its future greater.
Without the generous influx of financial donations and volunteer support we have received we would not have come this far. OurLA truly belongs to you and will only become more important if you will contribute in whatever way you can to enhance and expand our efforts.
Your participation as writers and content contributors is vital. We are looking for more reporters, bloggers, and conversation starters. We need volunteers to help us with fundraising and promotional efforts.
So whatever your focus, your goals, your values, we appreciate and encourage your commitment and participation.
This is a new year in the city of Los Angeles and in the world of online news and information. For those of us at OurLA we see the futures of these two spheres as inextricably intertwined.
Just as the city faces serious financial, political and social challenges this year, so too does the world of online journalism and media activism.
Without a robust and active discussion of the issues that matter most here in Los Angeles, little can be accomplished. The role of online media, social networking, and other novel methods of storytelling are critical to the progress we seek.
Some of the bravest, most honest, and informative reporting about L.A. can be found on local blogs and websites run by concerned and passionate citizens who have no agenda other than improving life in the city they call home.
We have been inspired by the work we've seen on many websites, blogs, and in community papers.
Stories all too often overlooked, avoided, and at times suppressed by the mainstream media have found a voice in the online world of media activism and community involvement.
We are happy and proud to have a voice in this discussion. But now we are looking to grow and increase our presence. In order to do this, we need you.
We hope that in another six months time, we will have the support - both financial and substantive - to grow our operation in scale and scope so as to best contribute to and protect the vital service that local online media provides.
Know there is always a place for you, your stories, and your ideas at OurLA.org.
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