Help me get to the legislature
I'm Matthew Reichbach and I have covered the last four legislative sessions. Three of those were for the non-profit New Mexico Independent. The last was for Clearly New Mexico.
Now, I am writing for my own website, New Mexico Telegram. This is a one-man operation, mainly (I have had one article that was written by someone other than myself).
I hope to make this the fifth year in a row covering the state legislature -- and my first covering the 60-day session wire to wire. To do this correctly, I will need to be in Santa Fe, talking to legislators and legislative watchers. I need to be in the committee hearings where much of the legislation is crafted.
To get there, I need your help.
What it will take
I'm not asking for a huge sum of money. I'm asking for less money than it would take to run the most meager of political campaigns -- just $3,500.
This money will go towards driving up and down I-25 (or taking the Railrunner depending on the day's schedule). It will go towards feeding myself during the month. And, yes, it will go towards paying my rent.
In addition to the videos, podcasts, blog posts, photos and liveblogs from the legislature, if you donate you will recieve some small tokens to say thank you.
These include buttons with the NM Telegram logo, bumper stickers, mugs with the Morning Word logo and even t-shirts. You can see all the incentives to the right of this page.
I have this set up as a fundraiser that you don't have to donate right now. Instead, the money will be taken out on January 15, 2013 -- the first day of the session.
And if the goal is not reached then no donations will be taken. As I said, this is the bare minimum that I need to be able to cover the legislature.
Why this matters
There are less and less reporters covering the state legislature. Newspapers don't have the capability of sending as many reporters as they used to. The TV news stations don't always send people. Sometimes important committee hearings have one or two reporters.
This is bad for many obvious reasons. And I want to do my small part to make sure that the legislative session, which is important to each and every New Mexican whether they know it or not, is as fully covered as possible.
So I only ask that you please do what you can to help me reach my goal.
Other ways you can help
I realize that not everyone will be able to donate -- not everyone is able to donate even to causes or projects that are important to them. So you can spread the news. Tell your friends and family on Facebook or Twitter -- or even by word of mouth. Know someone interested in politics? Let them know about the website.
