{"id":370493,"date":"2017-06-19T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T15:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=370493"},"modified":"2017-06-17T21:37:34","modified_gmt":"2017-06-18T03:37:34","slug":"what-nmpolitics-net-is-working-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/06\/what-nmpolitics-net-is-working-on\/","title":{"rendered":"What NMPolitics.net is working on"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing to update you on NMPolitics.net\u2019s progress. We\u2019ve made gains toward solidifying our funding in recent months, and our just-completed reader survey gave us great feedback and ideas for improvement.<\/p>\n

Over the next few months, I\u2019ll be working on several journalistic and other projects I think you\u2019ll be excited about:<\/p>\n

In-depth reporting<\/h3>\n
\"Heath

Heath Haussamen<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve been working for months on an investigative project<\/a> into the status of Spaceport America. The question of whether the spaceport is providing an economic benefit to the state is front-and-center, but I\u2019m also exploring transparency and other issues. I\u2019ve visited the spaceport, interviewed Virgin Galactic employees, dug deep into documents and researched what\u2019s happening in other states that have spaceports. I\u2019ve obtained information the public has never seen and am excited to publish this series. Look for it sometime in July.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve joined the Solutions Journalism Network and am working with reporters from around the state to examine how people and communities are building a resilient New Mexico. I’ll be working on a story on how Truth or Consequences can thrive<\/a> over the next few months. Others will be working in small towns across the state. We\u2019re sharing articles with each other, and I\u2019m really excited to publish all our reporting in October.<\/p>\n

Work on NMPolitics.net\u2019s joint investigation with the Las Cruces Sun-News and KRWG into southern New Mexico\u2019s behavioral health system<\/a> is progressing nicely. Look for that reporting later this year.<\/p>\n

Business development<\/h3>\n

While we\u2019ve made progress, NMPolitics.net still doesn\u2019t have the funding it needs to be stable. That affects our capacity to do journalism every month. I\u2019m continuing to work on building our individual donor base and am exploring other options for securing additional funding.<\/p>\n

Survey evaluation<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m currently reviewing the feedback you all provided in our recent survey and am already implementing some journalistic, technical and business changes as a result. I heard loud and clear that you want more state-level news, and I\u2019ve come to an agreement with New Mexico In Depth to republish their articles<\/a>. I have resolved a technical issue and restored comments<\/a> on the NMPolitics.net website. I\u2019ve made it easier for you to donate by mail<\/a>. Look for additional improvements in the coming months.<\/p>\n

What you can do to help<\/h3>\n

Completing in-depth reporting projects and the other tasks detailed here takes a lot of time and money. NMPolitics.net will continue to bring you the news, but I may be publishing a bit less frequently over the next couple of months.<\/p>\n

There are a couple of things you can do to help:<\/p>\n