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Devin: Enid, what is your superpower?
Enid: I hope this doesn't sound sappy, but in a word, love.
Devin: John, what's your superpower?
John: Look at your circumstances; just observe them, don't judge them. Just have a self-awareness.
In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Enid Futterman and John Isaacs, the co-founders of IMBY, a revolutionary platform for hyperlocal journalism. IMBY, which stands for "In My Back Yard," empowers communities to create their own digital newspapers, promoting citizen journalism and community engagement.
Enid explained, “IMBY is a hyperlocal network of websites for citizen journalism. It allows any community to create its own digital newspaper.” This model not only fills the gap left by the decline of traditional local newspapers but also provides a space for community members to share news, opinions, and events directly relevant to their locality.
John elaborated on the origins of IMBY, sharing how their initial success with a local community magazine in Hudson, New York, inspired them to create a scalable platform. “The demise of local journalism is not just an absence of information but also a threat to democracy. Local news plays an enormously important role and its diminishment is a serious issue for the preservation of democracy,” John emphasized. This sentiment underscores the critical role IMBY aims to play in sustaining informed and connected communities.
One of the most compelling aspects of IMBY is its support for citizen activists. Enid highlighted, “One of the biggest uses is among citizen activists who are trying to advocate for a cause, often aligned with our mission to build community with the values of localism, sustainability, and justice.”
Currently, IMBY is running a crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit to expand its reach. Enid noted, “Honeycomb's focus on crowdsourcing local capital aligns perfectly with our mission to crowdsource local news.”
IMBY’s innovative approach not only addresses the loss of local newspapers but also reinvigorates the essence of community journalism. Their platform represents a beacon of hope for communities striving to stay informed and engaged in an era of media consolidation and declining local news sources.
Through platforms like IMBY, the power of the press is truly placed back in the hands of the people, fostering a more democratic and connected society.
AI Episode Summary
1. Devin introduces IMBY, a platform for hyperlocal journalism developed by Enid Futterman and John Isaacs.
2. Enid describes IMBY as a network of websites for citizen journalism, allowing communities to create their own digital newspapers.
3. John shares the history and motivation behind IMBY, stemming from their experience with a local quarterly magazine in Columbia County, New York.
4. IMBY aims to address the decline of local newspapers by empowering citizens to become content creators, thereby preserving local journalism.
5. Enid emphasizes that anyone can post various types of content on IMBY, including news stories, opinion pieces, and event announcements, fortifying community advocacy.
6. John highlights that the decline in local journalism affects democracy, making platforms like IMBY crucial for maintaining local dialogues and informed communities.
7. Devin speaks about the cultural shift towards conglomerates owning local papers and how IMBY counters this by providing a decentralized model for local journalism.
8. Enid explains that IMBY is currently funded through local advertising and is exploring additional revenue streams such as subscriptions and merchandising.
9. John and Enid discuss their successful crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit, which aligns with IMBY's focus on crowdsourcing local news.
10. The show ends with Enid and John discussing their "superpowers" of love and self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of passion and self-reflection in achieving personal and professional fulfillment.
How to Develop Love As a Superpower
Summary: Enid's superpower is her profound love for what she does. This love drives her dedication to hyperlocal journalism and her mission to build community through IMBY. She believes that genuine passion and care for one's work are essential for overcoming challenges and achieving meaningful success.
Developing Enid's Superpower:
1. Find Your Passion: Identify work that you deeply care about and are passionate about.
2. Stay Tenacious: Understand that love for what you do can help you persist through challenges.
3. Align Values: Ensure that your work aligns with your values and beliefs, making it more fulfilling.
4. Move Away from Unfulfilling Work: Have the courage to leave work that doesn’t resonate with you, even if it’s lucrative.
By following Enid's example and advice, you can make love for your work a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
How to Develop Self-Awareness As a Superpower
Summary: John's superpower is his strong sense of self-awareness. He leverages his diverse experiences and philosophical background to stay focused on meaningful work that benefits society. By maintaining a balanced perspective and reflecting on his actions, John contributes significantly to the success and impact of IMBY.
Developing John's Superpower:
1. Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly take time to reflect on your actions and decisions without judgment.
2. Maintain Balance: Develop a balanced perspective by observing yourself from an outside view.
3. Stay True to Yourself: Avoid being driven by external pressures; focus on what genuinely matters to you.
4. Objective Observation: Engage in self-observation exercises in the morning and evening to maintain self-awareness throughout the day.
By following John's example and advice, you can make self-awareness a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile - Enid Futterman
Enid Futterman (she/her):
Co-Founder/Editorial Director, Imby, Inc.
About Imby, Inc.: Imby is the creator and publisher of imby.com, a hyperlocal network of 32 community websites in the Hudson Valley in New York and the Berkshires in Massachusetts.
Website: imby.com
X/Twitter Handle: @imbycentral
Company Instagram Page: @imbycentral
Other URL: inveset.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/IMBY
Biographical Information: I grew up in Brooklyn and had a long career in Manhattan in the advertising industry as Senior Copywriter and Vice-president of Grey Advertising, followed by freelance stints for several big New York agencies. I received every major award, including multiple Clios and a Silver Lion from Cannes. I’m the author of memorable taglines, including the by-now vernacular “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” My journalism career, which began as editor-in-chief of my college newspaper and a liberal arts/journalism degree from Douglass College of Rutgers University, came full circle to co-publishing and editing IMBY’s print predecessor OURTOWN with John Isaacs. I have an MFA in Musical Theater Writing from NYU and am an internationally produced lyricist-librettist, as well as a published writer of fiction.
Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/enidfutterman/
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/enid-futterman-3a92922/
Guest Profile - John Isaacs
John Isaacs (he/him):
Co-Founder/Creative Director, Imby, Inc.
About Imby, Inc.: Imby is the creator and publisher of imby.com, a hyperlocal network of 32 community websites in the Hudson Valley in New York and the Berkshires in Massachusetts.
Website: imby.com
X/Twitter Handle: @imbycentral
Company Instagram Page: @imbycentral
Other URL: inveset.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/IMBY
Biographical Information: John grew up in Wales and had a long career in Manhattan as president of John Isaacs Design, specializing in corporate identity and publishing. (But Enid and John didn’t meet until they both moved to Columbia County and started talking about collaborating on a local journalism project.) John conceived and served as managing editor of Lapis magazine, a groundbreaking and award-winning quarterly survey of social, cultural, and philosophical trends, and in 2004, co-founded, designed, and published OURTOWN with Enid. Since 2001, he has served as a director of WhiteBox, the alternative art space in Manhattan. He has been engaged in the development, design, and publication of numerous books on contemporary art and artists for galleries, museums, and publishers, including Abrams, Charta, Hatje Cantz, The MIT Press, and Steidl, and his own imprint. John Isaacs Design has also designed websites for a wide range of clients and provided pro-bono services to numerous local nonprofits. (Isaacs received a Graphis Gold award for his design of the pioneering local currency, BerkShares).
Personal Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/john.isaacs.9484
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-isaacs-55670a6/
Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/johnisaacsdesign/?hl=en
Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
SuperCrowdChicago, June 12, 2024. This in-person event at Columbia College Chicago features some of Chicago’s prominent citizens and community leaders, along with crowdfunding experts. Use the discount code “SuperCrowd” to save 30 percent!
Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, you must first become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
SuperCrowdHour, June 19, 2024, at 1:00 Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At this month’s webinar, Angela Barbash of Revalue will share insights about moving money from Wall Street to Main Street. Register here.
Recently, we created an AI GPT to help you learn more about The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, and our upcoming events. Click here to try it.
SuperCrowd Community Event Calendar
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events
Crowdfunding Professional Association Webinar, May 29, 2:00 PM ET, with the SuperCrowd’s Devin Thorpe talking about How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding.
The Reg A & Crowdfunding Conference, June 20, Westchester Country Club (Save 20% with the code Super20)
How Small Businesses Can Raise Capital from the Crowd, Thursday, July 11, 1 – 2 pm ET: Explore transforming your community connections into capital to start or grow a small business through regulated investment crowdfunding. Learn more about how this type of crowdfunding works and the benefits and challenges of raising capital from the crowd. About our Presenter: Author and journalist Devin Thorpe has over 25 years in finance and a rich background as a former CFO and investment banking firm founder. He’s also a champion for social good, publishing his Superpowers for Good newsletter and show.
Crowdfunding Professional Association, Summit in DC, October 22-23
If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 5,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.
We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.
Empowering Communities Through Hyperlocal Journalism: A Conversation with IMBY's Co-Founders