Proposal “Renewal-Ben-Swann-Reality-Check“ (Closed)Back
| Title: | PLEASE VOTE DOWN: Renewal: Ben Swann’s Reality Check Sponsorship & Ambassador |
| Owner: | Ben_Swann |
| Monthly amount: | 800 DASH (22915 USD) |
| Completed payments: | 1 totaling in 800 DASH (3 month remaining) |
| Payment start/end: | 2018-03-21 / 2018-07-18 (added on 2018-03-11) |
| Final voting deadline: | in passed |
| Votes: | 739 Yes / 815 No / 26 Abstain |
Proposal description
UPDATED SCALED DOWN PROPOSAL HERE: Reality Check Renewal Reduced Proposal
Renew Ben Swann’s Reality Check segment for 4 months (May, June, July, August 2018) with Dash as the sole sponsor.
UPDATE:
Things are moving along with Fox News. The Hill is interested in furthering talks on crypto related content. And a deal is being finalized with Biz Pac Review to publish Ben Swann's Reality Check powered by Dash. These larger publications require several rounds of approval, but things are moving forward with each one. We are getting closer to getting a lot mainstream traction for Dash.
We also have a confirmed meeting scheduled with CoinTelegraph on Monday to talk about the column and video show.
I'll be speaking at Libertopia in San Diego on May 4th, and Voice & Exit the weekend of May 18th. I will be highlighting Dash and the decentralization of media.
Tiffany Rider, Executive Producer of Reality Check, will also be attending Libertopia and will join a panel to discuss Dash and media.
I will be attending PorcFest in June.
Truth In Media powered by Dash has been asked to be a media sponsor of Freedom Fest in July and we have accepted. I will also be speaking there. Freedom fest is one of the largest freedom conferences in the US. It has many well known personalities attending including Judge Andrew Napolitano, Steve Forbes, John Stossel, and Patrick Byrne to name a few.
UPDATE:
Second release of Sponsor Spotlight. Beginning this coming weekend this will become a weekly segment (as per our agreement for May, June, July, August) In addition, we will be adding the call to action starting next week as well at the end of our segments. (BTW, if you have a specific Dash funded project you would like to have us profile please email me ben@truthinmedia.com)
Click here:
Sponsor Spotlight: Dash Digital Cash, Episode 2
Update:
Will be speaking at 4 major upcoming conferences to promote decentralization and DASH
Libertopia Libertopia
Porcfest Porcfest
Voice and Exit: Voice and Exit Austin
Freedom Fest FreedomFest
QUICK BUT BIG UPDATE on Ben Swann's Reality Check powered by Dash syndication:
Part of the team will be in NYC April 5th thru 11th for face to face meetings with: Fox News, The Hill, and The Telegraph, with a tentative meeting with Coin Desk.
Also, we are happy to announce that Kevin Mallon, former Director of Business Development for NewsMax, has joined the team. Kevin will open even more doors for Reality Check and Dash.
UPDATE:
We have released our first DASH Sponsor Spotlight video which will promote DASH adoption as well as highlight the projects funded by DASH around the world which are helping to promote freedom.
Reality Check Sponsor Spotlight on DASH
I have worked with Dash Watch to put together a breakdown of what we have done. But I thought that the goal of this project was to expand DASH as a brand? In just 2 months we have 10 Million video views, we
have dozens of major outlets considering syndication of DASH branded Reality Check and now, we have Coin Telegraph, one of the largest crypto sites on the web offering me a weekly column AND a crypto show. How have I not delivered on what I said I would do?
AS PART OF OUR RENEWAL, WE HAVE AGREED TO ADD VALUE TO THE PROJECT WITH 3 ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES:
1. To give DASH sponsorship "inclusion" for a period of two years with the naming of our studio as Dash studio. I have been offered a crypto-show to be distributed by Coin-telegraph. What better place to record the show than from DASH Studio.
2. Dash receives right of first refusal on future sponsorships from the date of the first proposal and extending 2 years. This allows us to still seek sponsors and gives DASH community
freedom to say no.
3. Keep the DASH intro and logo as is. (perhaps consider making the DASH logo a little more legible (it is difficult to see on non HD screens, several MNOs have raised this. Keep it tasteful discrete but just more legible)
4. Add a call to action at the end each of our videos on DASH so that your viewers understand in by investing in DASH means supporting continuation of our content and supporting freedom.
5. Give a DASH weekly "Sponsor Spotlight" program which focuses on one way in which DASH is working to increase freedom in the World and for our viewers to better understand what DASH is about. This does not have to follow the "Reality Check" format and is purely educational in nature. The goal is for Reality Check viewers to better understand how DASH aligns with "Reality Check" values of promoting freedom in the World through our DASH funded projects. e.g. Venezuela, Africa, and other other such projects.
UPDATE:
Here is a list of all the publications that have expressed interest in carrying DASH branded Reality Check:
Fox News
Breitbart
Lifezette
Gatehouse Media
The Hill
David Rubin
Real Clear Politics (already running)
Political Insider
Daily Wire
Raw Story
American Mirror
The Federalist
American Greatness
IJR
Western Journo
Finance Sites interested in Crypto Content
Coin-telegraph
Argo Financial
IB Times
Marketwatch
Coin Desk
RC Markets
IBD
Investing Channel
UPDATE: PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 4 MONTHS, MAY-AUGUST (my apologies for the giant font, I don't know how to undo that)
TRUTH IN MEDIA | |
Chief Marketing | $32,000.00 |
5 Web Journalists | $50,000.00 |
3 Web Crypto | $37,500.00 |
Editor in Chief | $16,600.00 |
3 Section Editors | $36,000.00 |
Web Maintain | $25,000.00 |
Marketing manager | $30,000.00 |
Web Hosting | $10,000.00 |
Social Community | $20,000.00 |
RC/SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | |
3 Researcher/writers | $37,500.00 |
Exec Prod | $36,000.00 |
Sponsor Prod | $15,000.00 |
3 Line Producers | $25,500.00 |
2 Graphic Designers | $42,000.00 |
1 Video Animator | $28,000.00 |
1 Director | $25,000.00 |
2 Grips | $15,000.00 |
2 Editors | $30,000.00 |
1 Audio Operator | $20,000.00 |
2 Engineers | $50,500.00 |
Music/Image Licensing | $40,000.00 |
News Video License | $100,000.00 |
Marketing Budget | $250,000.00 |
Still Photographer | $15,000.00 |
Travel | $10,000.00 |
Studio Rental | $40,000.00 |
Legal/Insurance | $20,500.00 |
Finish Studio Build | $250,000.00 |
In addition, we are building out a very strong syndication network. Real Clear Politics is now carrying Reality Check w/Ben Swann powered by Dash. Lifezette (which does 50M video views per month) has just signed on with us as well.
Example of Reality Check w/Ben Swann Powered by DASH
We have begun our build out of our Atlanta studio and have paid 18 contractors in Dash. While a large part of our original budget was
intended for studio build-out, the depreciation of Dash has left us with
less than half of our original budget. (More on that below)
I have also been able to speak about the power of Dash’s sponsorship at
Anarchapulco in front of a crowd of 1,500 and will be headed to San
Francisco to speak at Block 2 the Future. If this proposal is accepted I
will also be speaking at Porcfest in New Hampshire.
To read the full KPI just click here: https://goo.gl/1faZhF
Unfortunately, with the depreciation of Dash since our proposal first passed, we have not been able to build out as quickly as I would have liked. The good news is that we have released every episode on time just as I promised we would. I had originally not planned to renew until April but the depreciation has been difficult to adjust to and so I am seeking renewal to begin the month of April.
We propose that just as DASH is creating disruption in the financial world, it is now creating major disruption in the media world by bringing back to the masses Reality Check with Ben Swann. As the sole sponsor of Reality Check, DASH is now branded and tied to what is one of the most successful news segments in the world. Our hope is to establish and sustain a long-term partnership, and we would be honored to be an enduring ambassador of Dash.
Reality Check with Ben Swann is a news and information segment that paved the way in covering stories mainstream media misrepresented or simply deceived the public about in the United States and around the world. In 2016, Reality Check with Ben Swann had 110 Million video views on Facebook and outperformed media giants such as VICE News.
Deliverables and Funding Breakdown
Reality Check Sponsorship.
- Dash will be the sole sponsor of Reality Check for the duration of this sponsorship.
- Estimated 15M video views, 75M social impressions. The estimated video views and impressions do not include views and impressions gained through advertising. Videos will be uploaded to Facebook, YouTube, DTube, LBRY, Amazon Prime, Roku, embedded on Steemit and News Websites. Episode teasers will be posted to Instagram and Twitter. These will be in video or image format.
- Sponsorship includes:
- Lower third bug. “Ben Swann’s Reality Check Powered By Dash” and will be seen on all platforms listed above and more as we expand our network.
- Link in the description of the Youtube, DTube, and LBRY if available
- 5 second intro. Example “Reality Check is powered by Dash digital cash” after the intro to the Reality Check segment.
- There will be two Reality Checks a week; Every Tuesday and Thursday unless the date lands on a US holiday. Then Reality Check’s marketing department will decide what day to release that Reality Check on.
- Videos will cover topical US and World issues and will be 2 to 5 minutes long.
- A total of 40 episodes will be sponsored.
Ben Swann/Team at 3 Crypto/Blockchain events. Ben Swann and team go to one, US based, blockchain conference a month (3 total) to promote Dash. Live stream on Facebook and Youtube for 30/60 mins with TiM/Reality Check/Dash backdrop. Social promotion before and after the event. The events have not been picked yet, and we would love the Dash community’s feedback on where in the US you would like us to go.
Exclusive sponsor of Truth In Media website. Up to 4 banners per page with estimated impressions of 1,000,000
Co-branded merch. “Ben Swann’s Reality Check Powered By Dash Digital Cash” merch to give away to fans. T-shirts, decals, stickers, etc.
Mention Dash. Ben and team, while being interviewed by other press, will mention Dash is the reason Ben was able to come back.
Sponsor/Event Dash Discounts: Discounts for sponsors of other TiM properties and TiM events will receive discounts if they pay in Dash.
Investment: Four months 800 Dash/month.
Release Dates for Renewal:
May: 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31,
June: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
July: 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31
August: 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
Dealing with price fluctuations
We will save some for when and if there is a dip in the price of Dash. When Dash is performing well, we will add to advertising budget for Dash sponsored content, if there is a huge upswing create other Dash sponsored content.
Project updates to be expected by the community
We will provide a monthly KPI report. The KPI report will include banner impressions, video plays and reach.
About Ben Swann
I have 20 years of experience in journalism, behind and in front of the camera. I became drawn to covering under-reported issues and events early on in my career, particularly during my time covering the drug war in Mexico when I realized that the war on drugs was being misrepresented and most mainstream media had no interest in upholding their commitment to sharing the truth with the public. I’ve received two Emmy awards and two Edward R. Murrow awards, as well as several AP awards from my time in Texas and New Mexico.
I am not new to the cryptocurrency community. I’ve been discussing Bitcoin since 2013, longer and more thoroughly than most journalists in the media, in my own reporting as well as during my appearance at the Texas Bitcoin Conference in 2014. My experience stands in contrast to the majority of mainstream media, which is scrambling to catch up on coverage largely because cryptocurrency has become so accessible and attractive that they can no longer ignore it. However, the majority of media corporations fail to objectively and accurately report on this industry.
Benefit to Dash
We have the ability to bring Dash to a vastly larger audience than ever before. Without question we have already brought an enormous amount of attention to the Dash DAO with many media organizations and individuals now aware of the concept of a DAO treasury when they had not been in the past.
In addition, Reality Check episodes dive into subjects that are embraced and heavily recirculated by an enormous and diverse crowd. This crowd comes from widely varying political, social and geographic backgrounds and they range from individuals who have spent a great deal of their own time on research to individuals who are learning about these subjects for the first time, and the subject of cryptocurrency is no exception. The promotion of Dash will fit seamlessly with our reporting: while our audience is diverse, it shares a common passion for disruption in the media as well as a mindset that embraces disruptive technologies like cryptocurrency.
We have the advantage of both a huge audience and existing experience in speaking to the public about cryptocurrency. Using the same footprint that has helped Reality Check and Truth In Media episodes reach hundreds of millions of viewers, we will be able to integrate Dash and crypto within our videos as well as bring those topics to live events at a more intimate level with the public.
I have been honored over the past 2 1/2 months to act as an ambassador for Dash and to introduce the power of Dash Digital Cash to so many people.
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Discussion: Should we fund this proposal?
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Could you please provide some information on how this project is effective in increasing Dash Adoption? Sharing data on how many merchants and users were added would be useful.
There were also questions on the forum about fund utilization and differences between the information you submitted to dashwatch and wallet data. Could you clarify on how many dash have been used and how many remain unspent with you?
Jeremy
Keen to hear answers for both of these questions as well.
We all have to tighten our belt until the Dash price goes up again.
solarguy
I really hope Ben is able to and willing to come back very soon, either with a reduced budget req
Ben Swann’s Reality Check Sponsorship & Ambassador by Ben_Swann
https://dashwatch.org/files/1525000524983.pdf
Dash Watch’s April 27th Video Report Summary on
Ben Swann’s Reality Check Sponsorship & Ambassador by Ben_Swann
https://youtu.be/yGj9_PFCZ_E
We also have a confirmed meeting scheduled with CoinTelegraph on Monday to talk about the column and video show.
I'll be speaking at Libertopia in San Diego on May 4th, and Voice & Exit the weekend of May 18th. I will be highlighting Dash and the decentralization of media.
Tiffany Rider, Executive Producer of Reality Check, will also be attending Libertopia and will join a panel to discuss Dash and media.
I will be attending PorcFest in June.
Truth In Media powered by Dash has been asked to be a media sponsor of Freedom Fest in July and we have accepted. I will also be speaking there. Freedom fest is one of the largest freedom conferences in the US. It has many well known personalities attending including Judge Andrew Napolitano, Steve Forbes, John Stossel, and Patrick Byrne to name a few.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for a good bull run coming month.
I am compiling some data on effectiveness of projects in increasing adoption. Could you share some data on merchants or users that have started using dash as a result of this sponsorship?
Best wishes,
Jeremy
1) In the dozens and dozens of conference speaking opportunities and interviews on shows I've had, I've highlighted how Swann's return thanks to Dash highlights how decentralized autonomous organizations such as Dash can help overcome censorship and reliance on centralized funding models. It's one of those few things that makes people go "wow," where instant and private transactions don't. Especially among libertarian audiences, most of whom know who Swann is, this is the single biggest Dash selling point. Not being able to use this (or worse, having to explain to people I've already spoken to in the past that it didn't work out) would be a major setback.
2) Dash has a serious media blackout problem, both in general and in the crypto-specific media. Swann's team and Dash Force News are working together to solve this, including getting press releases sent out to hundreds of publications around the world, but more importantly getting Swann's content directly on to major publications, including his upcoming Cointelegraph partnership (and others to be announced). Details are still under wraps, but together we're ending Dash's media blackout by complementing what Wachsman PR has been doing for the financial world, and covering areas that they either aren't currently focusing on or do not plan to.
3) Swann is the single best spokesperson for Dash that exists, in terms of professionalism, articulation, passion, story, and star power. Having him go to a conference every month is so valuable. I do my best at every place I can get to, but I can do nowhere near as well as Swann. He's my keynote speaker for the Porcfest proposal, and losing that would damage my relationship and reduce the effectiveness of that event sponsorship that the network already paid for.
4) AD BAN! Have we forgotten that crypto ads are banned, significantly decreasing our advertising potential? Swann's ads, however, still go through, bringing Dash past the ad blockade. We can't undervalue our strategic partnerships with media projects in these dark times, especially our biggest one.
5) THREE presently passing proposals (We Are Change, Free Thought Project, Adam Kokesh) only came about because of Swann. It would be a crying shame to value the benefits of his hard work while disallowing him to continue to expand them even further. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs while loving these three most recent eggs seems very shortsighted.
We have released our first DASH Sponsor Spotlight video which will promote DASH adoption as well as highlight the projects funded by DASH around the world which are helping to promote freedom.
link here: https://twitter.com/BenSwann_/status/979501684920672256 or click on the link in the project description update
Part of the team will be in NYC April 5th thru 11th for face to face meetings with: Fox News, The Hill, and The Telegraph, with a tentative meeting with Coin Desk.
Also, we are happy to announce that Kevin Mallon, former Director of Business Development for NewsMax, has joined the team. Kevin will open even more doors for Reality Check and Dash.
If needed we can make a new fresh proposal next month to address all the community's concerns.
Ben has also not given any proper accounting statements and it seems like he is mostly just using the treasury for his own personal gains- building out his studio, unaccounted for expenses etc. Building studios for Ben does not benefit dash in any way.
I am also unhappy to see how he is not interested in getting a escrow despite Ryan clearly saying escrow is necessary for large projects . Escrow is not only for for the small fries and should be important for everyone asking for more the 500 dash.
Despite a downturn that should have been an opportunity, truth is, we have failed to decouple ourself from the wreck that is bitcoin and are down 70%.
This is in part because we have failed to increase any usage of Dash to pay for products or services and have instead favored advertising or supporting causes like this without a visible use case.
Going through the list of proposals all I see is sponsorships and conferences. Pay dash for showing logo. Pay dash for speaking slot and refreshments and airtickets. This is lazy and will take us nowhere.
Without developing use-cases for Dash, spending money on advertising or sponsorships is a complete waste. We should be increasing applications for dash on things like ecommerce, themes, freelancing, point of sale, instead of spending it on sponsorships for a coin people dont use.
Even if a billion people see the dash logo, it means nothing till they are able to practically use it in their daily lives. They will just see the logo and forget about it. Imagine if no one accepted the dollar, how far would it go with advertising.
3200 dash will kill the treasury for months on end, pushing out far more worthwhile ideas that might cost 50-100 or 200 dash.. With budget requests from core coming in every month, giving away the keys of the treasury to Ben Swann will set us back many months.
--> My request to MNs passionately supporting liberal, conservative, free speech, free media, other charitable etc causes is to look past your biases to look for returns for the network and use the increased value of your dash to support causes in a personal capacity.
Wixam
Would result in increased adoption for Dash, Ben would have to explain what dash is, how to get it and use it, and it puts truth in media on a path towards user funded self sustainability that increases dash transaction volume.
I understand some of the concerns and now Ben is on notice. Maybe someone can outline those outstanding (I think Ben has addressed most of them) and before the next cycle, Ben can address, fix, and plan to improve the next proposal.
I'm also a bit perplexed why this relationship might be dropped. We in the Dash community need to work harder on attracting and keeping professionals working for our network.
We will be in contact in the next few days with our plan of action if this current proposal does not pass. We can set up a conference call if needed but we are confident the changes we discussed will insure its passage next month. Dash has invested a lot in this project already and it would not be fair to any of the parties involved if it was to fail before really getting started.
I have worked with Dash Watch to put together a breakdown of what we have done. But I thought that the goal of this project was to expand DASH as a brand? In just 2 months we have 10 Million video views, we have dozens of major outlets considering syndication of DASH branded Reality Check and now, we have Coin Telegraph, one of the largest crypto sites on the web offering me a weekly column AND a crypto show. How have I not delivered on what I said I would do?
On top of that a lot of the masternode owners were sold this dream that having you on board would be massive for our reach and that we would bring millions of people into Dash in a short time. It didn't happen, to make things worse for people like me and and many others it was very unclear that you used the money in a fair way, while that's not important to all MNOs, some of us want a certain decency in distribution of funds, I don't want you to take 10x the salary of Ryan for example. Many project owners ask for very little money for themselves because they are really doing their project for the benefit of Dash, not themselves.
Also your process seems flawed. Why will you be finishing the community report 2 days before your proposal asking for 13% of the budget is finished on voting? It would have seemed like basic logic to do the report before this proposal. Now to me it looks like you thought you could get away without any oversight to getting money, but being voted down you are now forced to do the report.
If he took 50% of funds for himself personally would you still be happy with supporting him? I'm just asking these tough questions because I think they should be standard. Don't you agree?
I'm also not thinking that the average MN owner is short sighted that "only take on quick-hit pumper projects". I am just almost repeating what was said to me to try to convince me 3 months ago.
you are just asking for to much Dash thats it.
I did a post 2 weeks ago like manny others with 0 responce or 10Days later from your side and now this. ,
my thinking on the fist vote we fund you the 2400DASH that you alreddy got we helped you starting your new/old format and keep sponcering you with a lower number so taht you can continue your work. (im also living in europe i dont even care about your talking about only US based bla bla content but it is waht it is. ) "Quote from my last post" Ben ( you) are good Spoksman for DASH yes sould he/you get payed from the Netwok also Yes. im ok with 100-200 Dash a month. cheers from Austria
4. Add a call to action at the end each of our videos on DASH so that your viewers understand in by investing in DASH means supporting continuation of our content and supporting freedom.
5. Give a DASH weekly "Sponsor Spotlight" program which focuses on one way in which DASH is working to increase freedom in the World and for our viewers to better understand what DASH is about. This does not have to follow the "Reality Check" format and is purely educational in nature. The goal is for Reality Check viewers to better understand how DASH aligns with "Reality Check" values of promoting freedom in the World through our DASH funded projects. e.g. Venezuela, Africa, and other other such projects.
And he has given us a breakdown of his expenses for this project. He is also delivering in spite of a dramatic downturn in the price of Dash from when he first entered this contract.
All of the above sounds like petty personal objections. These things don't matter. Only the bottom line matters.
Did Reality Check deliver views, Did they achieve what he said he would achieve. Please look at his updates:
https://www.dash.org/forum/threads/ben-swann%E2%80%99s-reality-check-sponsorship-ambassador-feb-kpi-report.30215/
This is all I care about. Results. Organic positive growth in recognition and conversion.
Social KPIs- Feb 2018
Facebook:
Reach: 7,302,529
Video Views: 1,674,102
Reach Paid: 17,765,080
Video Views Paid: 3,068,524
Total Reach of Dash funded content: 25,067,609
Total Video Views: 4,742,626
Twitter:
Video Views: 91,727
Reach of Dash funded content: 30,456,786
Video Views Paid: 7,140
Reach Paid: 59,951
Total Video Views: 98,867
Total Reach: 30,516,737
YouTube:
Video Views: 217,289
Instagram:
Video Views: 30,226
DTube:
After we started promoting our DTube channel, following the 4th video Reality Check with Ben Swann powered by Dash was trending every single release.
Co-branded Banner Impressions:
Website: 962,970
Reality Check/TiM sponsored by Dash Promo: 1,354,151
Total: 2,317,121
Newsletter Co-branded Impressions:
Total 64,929
Grand Totals:
Banner Impressions (including newsletter): 2,382,050
Total Reach: 55,584,346
Total Video Views: 5,089,008
However, there is one major thing missing from this relationship, which is sorely needed: additional protection for the Dash Network for sponsoring a large amount of upfront studio build-out costs. This is a large and unusual expense for a sole-sponsor to pay for.
So I am asking the team to come up with something to sweeten the deal for Dash. Here are a few ideas:
- Right of First Refusal (suggestion 3 years): Allow Dash first priority to match a deal with another sponsor and use Dash instead
- Lowest cost advertiser for placement spots (suggestion 3 years)
- Exclusivity agreement (suggestion 1-2 years) that Dash will be the exclusive / official Crypto sponsor of Ben's content (unless otherwise agreed to by Dash). Ben Swann can still have other sponsors, just not other Crypto sponsors that compete with Dash.
The list of unanswered questions one the forum is growing and as voting comes towards a close, you are ignoring questions on breakdowns, where money was spent etc doesnt leave us with a great feeling. Your answers on the budget were non-specific and you chose to ignore almost all follow up questions. Quantumexplorer asked you some important questions which you also ignored, Same goes for mastermined.
It is a little high-handed to expect millions in funding from us(at great cost to us with respect to other proposals being pushed out) without participating with enthusiasm in our debate system.
This should not be a one-way street. I hope you consider that.
Wixam
https://www.dash.org/forum/threads/ben-swann%E2%80%99s-reality-check-sponsorship-ambassador-feb-kpi-report.30215/
I do however see someone making their own threads in pre-proposal that look like attacks, and not in the correct place (preproposals are for preproposals, not personal comments on projects) This comment makes it look as though Ben Swann's group is ignoring something, which they have no reason to know it exists?
On top of that I see videos like : "Reality Check: Obama/Clinton to Blame for Slave Trade in Libya?", whatever your political views, you can not say that that is not partisan right? In my case I have not been flaky. 3 months ago I was against any and all proposals that might alienate large amounts of potential users of Dash, and I still am.
Basically the reasons why I am against this proposal are piling on, and while I would live and still sleep well at night if it passes, I will call out things I think are wrong.
Proposals asking for as little as 50 dash have to provide accounts and even to suggest that this is not mandatory for Ben Swann because you seem to like his show is surrendering our core interests.
Ben has ignored questions relating to fund utilization and accountability and this is a major red flag as far as Dash is concerned.
1. You listed web hosting at $2500/month. Can you tell us which web hosting provider you are using?
2. Can you give details for the $250,000 marketing, where and how will this money be spent? How much for what medium and how much on salaries?
3. You previously said that 18 contractors were paid in dash, can you point these transactions on the blockchain explorer?
4 Quantamexplorer asked, how have you spent 2400 dash so far?
2. The majority of this is spent on Facebook boost in order to increase reach of content. We also have some set aside for google ads.
3. I cannot point to all of those because some are to contractors who also have subcontractors so while there are 18 total, i cannot point to each one.
4. That will be in the report but to be clear, we have not spent 2400, we have spent 1600. We still have just under 800 to spent for April because this is the final month of our current proposal.
What is the issue in releasing the 18 transactions when it takes only a copy paste from the wallet? The answers that you are giving sound evasive and a little disturbing.
How much have you spent on marketing so far and can you provide exact numbers, kpis and costs? Please be as specific as possible in your reply. Every proposal owner needs to give these answers, so this isn't any extra scrutiny.
Why are you back asking for so much more money, if you havent already spent the allocated Dash so far?
Wixam.
1. It is indicated in some of these comments that we haven't delivered very many views. In fact, with 1 week remaining in this month, we will have delivered nearly 10 Million Dash branded video views in just 60 days. That is more than twice as many views as the entire DASH YouTube channel has had in its entire existence. (That is not a slight of the channel, it is a fact of the numbers). My team is pulling the numbers for 7 weeks of content and I will post them here tomorrow. (There is still one more month + one week or 10 RC episodes in the previous budget proposal)
2. Some claim that our reach, even with those millions of video views is not enough. I actually agree. From the beginning I have been very clear that our goal was to syndicate DASH branded content onto dozens of much larger platforms (much more effective than just building on YouTube and Facebook). Here is a list of all the publications that have expressed interest in carrying DASH branded Reality Check:
Fox News
Breitbart
Lifezette
Gatehouse Media
The Hill
David Rubin
Real Clear Politics (already running)
Political Insider
Daily Wire
Raw Story
American Mirror
The Federalist
American Greatness
IJR
Western Journo
Finance Sites interested in Crypto Content
Coin-telegraph
Argo Financial
IB Times
Marketwatch
Coin Desk
RC Markets
IBD
Investing Channel
I was clear from the beginning that I was looking for a long term relationship with DASH and it takes time to get into these outlets but these are hundreds of millions of eyeballs on DASH branded content. Again, we have only been creating this content for 7 weeks. It does take time.
3. Some are asking for a bigger ROI saying that we have not converted enough people to become DASH users. Certainly, reasonable people would not expect us to single-handedly stem the course of crypto depreciation over the past few months. That alone is preventing many new users from adopting. On the other hand, we have committed in this proposal to adding a call to action video encouraging users buy DASH as a way of supporting the work. In addition, we will be adding a weekly Sponsor Spotlight video to demonstrate the work of DASH around the world to support financial freedom.
Again, I don't want there to be any question about this. I am committed to a long term relationship with DASH that I absolutely believe will build DASH's brand. I just hope the DASH community is committed as well.
The pricing also seems pretty high, It may need to be scaled back. I would be happy with just sponsoring RC and paying Ben separately as a Dash spokesperson. I watch RC but never read TIM.
I would like to see the following scaled back to half the people at least for now with our current budget shortfall.
3 Line Producers
$25,500.00
2 Graphic Designers
$42,000.00
2 Grips
$15,000.00
2 Editors
$30,000.00
2 Engineers
$50,500.00
I think other cost could be easily scaled back too.
Sorry i didn't realize we already had a 2 year agreement. 3 would be better but i think 2 is fine.
"but without continuing to provide funding?"
Depends on what the monthly funding is. If it is 300 to 400k a month i would say that is way too much. Was there a set monthly amount before?
I think a lot of issues could have been avoided if a budget breakdown was posted early on. I see the current monthly breakdown was recently posted as i and others requested. I still don't see a breakdown on what had been spent from the first proposal and where it was spent. I't does not look like this prop will pass as is and will need to come back next month with more clearly defined budgeting and agreements.
I have a 3 way meeting with Joel and Mark right now and we will discuss what needs to happen to make this work for all parties involved.
It’s about who has the control of information. Almost anyone and everyone one in power wants to control it so they can stay in power. Controlling information -> controls emotions -> controls elections -> controls governments -> controls people. It’s that simple.
Funding these type of proposals is showing the world how we as a DAO can fund an in-suppressible news program. One that can unabashedly expose propaganda, crony capitalism, war profiteering and politico-corporate media manipulation. A truly decentralized media program where funding and distribution is out of any one person’s or even any one government's control. Today, it’s Reality Check with Ben talking in front of a monitor about ignored stories and media bias. Tomorrow, it’s DASH News Tonight with free-agent correspondents all over the world actually accomplishing what TimeWarner’s Vice News pretends to. I can’t wait to see the proposal for DASH News to host the US presidential debates where there are no party black outs and the debate questions are presented by the community and voted on by the DAO. Fucking amazing!
I understand that we need to hold Ben accountable for the funds but this is much bigger than finding a another media outlet to shill DASH.
Proposals like this is why I got a masternode and it’s what I’ll be thinking of when I tell my grand-kids how I help change the world one MNO vote at time.
1 You have failed to provide a detailed(or even basic) breakup of costs despite being asked many times by Lan_ger, TroyDash, Quantamexplorer. Not great. For the money we have paid already, there should be an itemised breakup. Asking again Are you willing to provide an indepth budget?
2 The results from your first campaign have not helped increase dash adoption and there are no metrics to support this either. Reach numbers are nebulous as many know. Very disappointed with the low interest you have in reporting your performance, feels like you are just using us.
3 Tying up 800 dash of the treasury budget for 4 months is huge and this project would have to deliver the combined roi of a large number of projects it displaces. For 3200 dash, we can fund 15 other projects so you will have to deliver roi of 15 projects combined plus some more, while all the others will lose their proposal fee.
So far you are struggling to deliver roi equal to even one of these projects . In this situation It would be irresponsible to give you this money and not fund other people
I have strong views on supporting free media in places it needs help, especially in China but I dont want to bring my political views into this.
From an roi standpoint, funding this proposal will be almost a complete write off for dash. I support funding the other africa and venezvuela projects that are being pushed out by this.
VOTING NO
Wixam
Chief Marketing $32,000.00
5 Web Journalists $50,000.00
3 Web Crypto $37,500.00
Editor in Chief $16,600.00
3 Section Editors $36,000.00
Web Maintain $25,000.00
Marketing manager $30,000.00
Web Hosting $10,000.00
Social Community $20,000.00
RC/SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
3 Researcher/writers $37,500.00
Exec Prod $36,000.00
Sponsor Prod $15,000.00
3 Line Producers $25,500.00
2 Graphic Designers $42,000.00
1 Video Animator $28,000.00
1 Director $25,000.00
2 Grips $15,000.00
2 Editors $30,000.00
1 Audio Operator $20,000.00
2 Engineers $50,500.00
Music/Image Licensing $40,000.00
News Video License $100,000.00
Marketing Budget $250,000.00
Still Photographer $15,000.00
Travel $10,000.00
Studio Rental $40,000.00
Legal/Insurance $20,500.00
Finish Studio Build $250,000.00
1. You listed web hosting at $2500/month. Can you tell us which web hosting provider you are using?
2. Can you give details for the $250,000 marketing, where and how will this money be spent? How much for what medium and how much on salaries?
3. You previously said that 18 contractors were paid in dash, can you point these transactions on the blockchain explorer?
Wixam
https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/dash.org <--- The Alexa Ranking of Dash.org
https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/getfreedash.com <---- The Alexa Ranking of Getfreedash.com
https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/dashcentral.org <----- The Alexa Ranking of this website
In reality, truthinmedia should be paying Dash to advertise on Dash.org considering how little traffic that website gets in relation to dash.org.
In fact Truth in media barely has more visitors than Dashcentral!
As for the emotional based argument about supporting freedom and all that, I actually agree. But lets be real, Ben Swann is not some free thinker. He has never broken a story, he is not an investigative journalist. Lets throw money at Glenn Greenwald and the Intercept, or Laura Poitras, or one of the other countless real journalists who discover real stories through hard work, not someone who repackages libertarian / right-wing talking points to make you feel warm inside.
That service is not worth a million dollars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JJuepOwTDw
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/28/numerous-tea-party-chapters-claim-irs-attempting-to-sabotage-non-profit-status.html
In the youtube link you claim you broke that story on 3/1/12. The second link is a news story from foxnews that breaks that story 3 days earlier. And that took about 4 minutes to find. Im sure there are even earlier examples.
As for being the only person to ask Obama about the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki. There have been whole documentaries on the subject, here is Obama defending the action in the briefing room, you can hardly credit yourself with bringing this to light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYwyWf_uFEE
I don't have the patience to talk about your Lone Star Emmy's or the Edward R. Murrow awards. But I encourage those reading to go look them and decide for yourself what they have to do with this conversation.
your "commitment to freedom" has nothing to do with whether you are a good reporter or not (and is also a bs phrase that sounds like it means something but really doesnt).
TRUTH IN MEDIA
Chief Marketing $32,000.00
5 Web Journalists $50,000.00
3 Web Crypto $37,500.00
Editor in Chief $16,600.00
3 Section Editors $36,000.00
Web Maintain $25,000.00
Marketing manager $30,000.00
Web Hosting $10,000.00
Social Community $20,000.00
RC/SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
3 Researcher/writers $37,500.00
Exec Prod $36,000.00
Sponsor Prod $15,000.00
3 Line Producers $25,500.00
2 Graphic Designers $42,000.00
1 Video Animator $28,000.00
1 Director $25,000.00
2 Grips $15,000.00
2 Editors $30,000.00
1 Audio Operator $20,000.00
2 Engineers $50,500.00
Music/Image Licensing $40,000.00
News Video License $100,000.00
Marketing Budget $250,000.00
Still Photographer $15,000.00
Travel $10,000.00
Studio Rental $40,000.00
Legal/Insurance $20,500.00
Finish Studio Build $250,000.00
TRUTH IN MEDIA
Chief Marketing $32,000.00
5 Web Journalists $50,000.00
3 Web Crypto $37,500.00
Editor in Chief $16,600.00
3 Section Editors $36,000.00
Web Maintain $25,000.00
Marketing manager $30,000.00
Web Hosting $10,000.00
Social Community $20,000.00
Reality Check/SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
3 Researcher/writers $37,500.00
Exec Prod $36,000.00
Sponsor Prod $15,000.00
3 Line Producers $25,500.00
2 Graphic Designers $42,000.00
1 Video Animator $28,000.00
1 Director $25,000.00
2 Grips $15,000.00
2 Editors $30,000.00
1 Audio Operator $20,000.00
2 Engineers $50,500.00
Music/Image Licensing $40,000.00
News Video License $100,000.00
Marketing Budget $250,000.00
Still Photographer $15,000.00
Travel $10,000.00
Studio Rental $40,000.00
Legal/Insurance $20,500.00
Finish Studio Build $250,000.00
Hate to say it, but more plugs are necessary for this amount of sponsorship.
1. Keep the DASH intro and logo as is. (perhaps consider making the DASH logo a little more legible (it is difficult to see on non HD screens, several MNOs have raised this. Keep it tasteful discrete but just more legible)
2. Add a call to action at the end each of your videos on DASH so that your viewers understand in by investing in DASH means supporting continuation of your channel and supporting freedom.
3. Give a DASH weekly "Sponsor Spotlight" program which focuses on one way in which DASH is working to increase freedom in the World and for your viewers to better understand what DASH is about. This does not have to follow the exact "Reality Check" format and is purely educational in nature. The goal is for Reality Check viewers to better understand how DASH aligns with "Reality Check" values of promoting freedom in the World through our DASH funded projects. e.g. Venezuela, Africa, and other other such projects.
In addition I have have confirmed that we 4226 DASH free in the Budget and not 1900 DASH which I had previously thought we had. (sorry my mistake)
This means that If Reality Check goes through then we still have enough for our community projects for Venezuela and Africa and other important projects like DASH Academy.
Therefore I now see this proposal as a Win Win for everyone: DASH, Ben Swann and Reality Check viewers.
DASH needs an Ambassador that has a high profile professional style to get our message out.
Therefore provide in the future non of our community projects are likely to be pushed out by this budget proposal I am now changing my votes from NO to YES and I would now encourage other MNOs to do the same.
Voting YES.
DeepBlue
If this proposal is funded, would you be open to reporting on this event?
What is you view of powerful countries dominating smaller countries that have fewer political clout trying to take their resources. They creating distorted news about their country’s leaders to give them the excuse they need to muscle in on countries like with Venezuela (who have oil) and the US (who wants that oil)?
I'm sure your aware that Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world - more than Saudi Arabia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_proven_oil_reserves
But unlike Saudi Arabia, Venezuela does not want to sell its oil to the US for a pittance because Venezuela leaders wants to give 60% of its profits from the sale of its oil back to the people in social develpment programs. Unlike other oil rich countries Venezuela does not want to be bullied by the US to sell its oil without making a reasonable profit.
Do you think there could be any connection here to why Venezuela has sanctions from the US? I mean do you think its possible that mainstream media could be distorting the truth about Venezuela's leaders?
Have you seen Abbey Martin's Venezuela reports? If MNO's have not watched these reports I highly recommend MNO watch these as they are truly enlightening about the situation in Venezuela and how mainstream media is distorting the message about Venezuela's leaders.
As you may know DASH is working hard to try and make a difference in Venezuela by sponsoring a number of important community projects - many of which are in this month's budget proposals. Have you seen these - what are you thoughts about these smaller projects. Do you think they are worthwhile?
Here are a few of Abbey Martin's fascinating reports that people may be interested in since.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y32y3B3mp0A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23j3XIWe8Yg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYWrPiUeWY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk1qlKu_RJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_l0C5dE3EQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95UvGZ6jIyU
We and the Venezuela proposal owners are working hard to help Venezuela's establish DASH as its national currency. We want to give Venezuela back her power by giving her a sound currency that will give hope to the people to build their lives back up again.
Behind DASH there are real people. It's easy to think of DASH only as a "computer money network" but actually the power behind DASH is the people and their intent to do what we can to right the wrong's that are happening in this world. We are aiming to help people in these countries be able to be free from the power and influence of large countries that are just going after what's in their own best interest. To take their resources for themselves.
It seems from your shows you, too are intending to combat such issues as that of what is happening to Venezuela by other powerful countries. Powerful countries that have a vested interest on getting their hands on Venezuela’s oil. Yet I've never seen you once mention a DASH project, or covered anything that DASH is doing in any of your shows. Why is that? Do you not think our projects are worth a mention to raise awareness of what we are trying to achieve in places like Venezuela? Or do you think that would come across as "too commercial" for your audience that you “sold out” to corporate sponsorship.
It's clear from all the MNO feedback here that they wnat to see more of your shows. It's also clear that others watching your shows also want to see more Reality Checks. Since it is DASH that is powering your shows don't you think that you have a responsibility to your audience to explain in detail the connection between what DASH is trying to achieve and what you are trying to achieve? Do you not think your viewers want to see more of your shows that you show them how that can be be achieved by them actually investing in DASH ? Or would that come across as “too commercial” for you?
If more people invested in DASH the price would go up. And if the price goes up that would mean there is more money in the DASH treasury. Which would mean that projects like yours could continue to be sponsored without killing off other smaller projects like the Venezuela projects. Do your audience know this connection? I don't think so Ben. From reading the youtube comments under your videos. Some of your viewers are saying "DASH, well I guess it sounds better than central banks" they have no idea what DASH is, what we are doing. They have no idea that if the price of DASH increases it will fund your shows continuing. They have no idea because you’ve not told them. We can hope they guess the connection of course...like you’re doing now. Or do you think it might be worth explicitly explaining the connection so they can make an informed decision?
Unlike other sponsors we have the same values as you - at least I think that's right? We are trying to achieve the same things as you. So I don't personally see it as being a conflict of interest by promoting our projects on your shows. I see it in fact as in line with your values. Unlike other corporate sponsorships that are not related to your values -DASH is. Have you really thought about that distinction Ben?
When I look at our tiny little DASH logos on your videos - that were only placed there after MNO's complained, (me being one of them) and a 5 second mention of DASH powering your shows only right at the beginning. It almost seems like we are an afterthought. Something to be tolerated like a normal corporate sponsor. Is that how you think about us Ben?
I notice that you put one video up in this forum - which you produced right before this proposal and this is the one you gave as the example of the type of material that you are producing. However is that a fair a true representation of the content you are producing. I don’t think so.
I think we need a reality check that you are not going to find anywhere else.
No, the above video is not representative of the subjects you've been covering in your videos. Am I saying that all your videos should be DASH focused, no, I’m not saying that. But am I saying that perhaps focusing on more of the DASH community projects like our DASH Venezuela projects maybe. Do you think that your readers would then see by buying DASH they will be sponsoring both you and the community projects that we are trying to get established in places like Venezuela?
So my question is why aren't you covering what DASH is actually achieving in places in Venezuela? Why are you not explaining to your viewers if they want more of "Ben Swann's" reality check shows that they could consider buying DASH to help support your shows at the end of every one of your shows ? Do your viewers know the connection between your shows going on and the DASH price? If they don't know this do you not think that you have some form of responsibility in educating your viewers between that connection? Or would that come across as being "too commercial"?
I recommend you read some of the comments in your videos from viewers. It's clear they don't even know what DASH is. They don't even know what DASH is trying to achieve in places like Venezuela and Africa. I'm wondering do you think that our projects are not worth covering in your shows? or do you have more important agenda of your own to follow?
Are we just a sponsor? or are we a partner Ben? Do we share the same values or are you out to get your studio ready in the shortest possible time irrespective of swallowing up nearly half of the DASH funding this month and possibly killing off some of those small community projects I’ve been talking about.
If I was in your position. I would see DASH as a partner. I would consider the DASH budgets and what I was asking for this month and any month there are small Venezuela or Africa proposals. Then I would moderate my request for that month so that other important projects like Venezuela projects that are essential to go through to help Venezuela actually DO go through. Or would you be totally OK if your 800 DASH proposal this month could push some of the small community projects out? Are you a partner Ben or are you out to benefit just yourself irrespective of these other project we are trying so hard to get through? I would hope the answer is you see us as a long term partner. That is what I would do and I would moderate my requests to fit in with the DASH community to support the DASH community in the same way we are supporting you. But that is just what I would do if I was in your position. So, the question is. What are you going to do this month Ben?
Now THAT is a reality check you won't get anywhere else!
DeepBlue
Point 1... There is nothing the would prevent is from talking about Dash initiatives like what is happening in Venezuela. The story had merit and we will look at doing it.
Point 2... Our show is about freedom and I believe Dash at its core shares that core value.
Point 3... You pivot away from your argument over what kind of stories I cover to then seemingly accuse me of not caring about those important projects like Venezuela (and they are important) because I believe my project is important as well? You also misrepresent my renewal proposal by calling it a studio build out only... You ignore that it is to continue creating content. You act as if nobody watching the content knows or cares what Dash is but that is not true either. In fact, I have heard from many people who were not previously familiar with Dash but are now and others who say they have purchased Dash since seeing the sponsorship.
Point 4... You keep saying there are only 1950 Dash available in the treasury this cycle... Please explain how this is a true statement. From what I can tell there are actually 6,176 Dash available this month with only 1,950 accounted for. Which means there are 4,226 Dash available for disbursement.
If that is the case... Then that would mean that the treasury could fund ALL the current Venezuela and Africa proposals AND my project and still have more than 2,000 Dash available in this months budget. Is that not correct?
"Next budget payments will occur in 16 days (voting deadline in 13 days) and will provide 1950.00 DASH of 6176.72 DASH total available budget"
I understood this to mean that 1950 DASH of 6176.72 is free to be paid out and 4226 has already been spent on past proposals.
Could someone please clarify this point. How much DASH is actually available to spend in this month 1950 DASH or 4226 DASH?
Regarding your cost breakdowns:
This is what I got from your original budget proposal:
https://www.dashcentral.org/p/Ben-Swann-Reality-Check-Relaunch
Ben Swann Reality shows for 3 months of shows would cost the DASH network a total of : $2,775,000
From the budget breakdown here are the costs you gave for your studio build and hardware costs which are something you will have as assets to use in all future projects and are a one off cost:
Television/Streaming Studio build out- $850,000
Broadcast control room- $300,000
3 Broadcast HD cameras - $180,000
Studio Lighting $75,000
Video Mixer - $70,000
= $ 1,475,000 for Hardware and studio build.
This means for the hardware and studio build out alone i.e. costs that are not associated with creating content itself =
1,475,000 / 2,775,000 x 100 = 53% of the cost is in Studio build out and hardware for your project. Could you confirm if that is correct.
What I was saying that if there is only 1950 DASH in the budget then your proposal would take nearly half of that available budget. If however there is 4226 DASH free to spend this month as you say then that makes a difference.
We therefore need clarified how much DASH is actually free to spend in the budget this month is it 1950 DASH or is it 4226 DASH?
yes - I understood it just like you.
1950 DASH is the sum of all green (passing) proposals: https://www.dashcentral.org/budget
So additional 4226 DASH is actually available to spend in this month.
Let the merit of the idea suggested determine if it is taken up or not. If Ben Swann runs a truly independent media outlet then he would consider valid topics impartially and not be biased *against* us because we are a sponsor.
It feels that our projects, that are actually in line with Ben Swann's topics, are being actively excluded because we are a sponsor and it would come across as being "too commercial".
I repeat let the merit of the idea be evaluated. Then the freedom exists to choose or not choose and to represent in an independent and fair way. That is how *true* independent media should function.
I retain the right to voice my views to anyone, including Benn Swann. That is what a free society is about.
I notice that Benn Swann has not replied to my message about the fact we only have 1900 DASH in the funds and Ben is still pushing ahead with his 800 DASH request and my request for him to consider the other projects in this month's budge proposals. It is becoming clear where Ben's interests lie.
We only got your reply to my post - and I notice that you are not a MNO. I also notice you've not made any comments in other proposals other than cross posting your plea to MNO to support Ben Swann. Unlike you, I've spent more than 15 hours of time assessing all the proposals so I can make a balanced and reasonable decision about how DASH money is best spent. It is clear you have an agenda to push through Ben Swann irrespective of other valuable projects we have which are having a REAL different in actually DOING something in places like Venezuela. Ben's show is talk focused. The projects we are supporting are action focused actually implementing real and tangible difference to the people in the streets, in their homes and in their families in places like Venezuela and Africa.
I would appreciate it if you could stop cross posting (spamming) other proposals which we have been working on with your plea's to support Ben Swann. It is not the right place to make your arguments. They are off topic and disrupting our discussions on other projects.
Other crypto’s won’t be able to do this as sponsoring people like Ben costs more than running a few ads on Google’s platform. As such, sponsorships like this will serve as a key Dash advantage going forward.
I’m writing to you and the community as a whole. I understand that many of you bought into Dash because you see it as a potential winner in the crypto space and that you can earn a steady income from running a node. The budget system is great, only as a business person, you don’t see the value of some of the apparently wasteful things that have been supported in the past, and you are going to do your darndest to put a stop to it! I appreciate that. Many of the things Dash has done don’t make economic sense. I keep hearing about the Rate of Income, and that we’re not seeing sufficient returns on some of the proposals. Unfortunately, I don’t think you understand what you signed on for. Please let me explain.
The cryptocurrency movement started by the unknown Satoshi Nakamoto, is a declaration of war against the incumbent banking system. There is no sweeter way of saying it. Of course nobody wants actual war, or any type of violence, however the incumbent system has utterly failed the people of the world in so many ways, and are undoubtedly the cause and source of all the wars around the world; the proof of which would be far too long a book to write here. This war can only be won Gandhi style, Martin Luther King Jr. style. We must win the hearts and minds of the world. We must grab as big a foothold in countries who have been decimated by bad governments and bankers. What you signed on for here is not a “business” that runs a balance sheet and must show profit. You signed on to a war.
If you have not noticed yet, The IMF’s Christine Lagarde had declared the need to “control cryptocurrencies”. The good news is that they can not, ultimately, control them. They can however block fiat access which would be a huge slowdown in adoption. You see, when Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin, he knew he already won the war. However, there are still battles to go through. They will not change the ultimate outcome, but they can cause a LOT of misery; probably even death, as it’s obvious that those in power will do anything to keep it. It does NOT have to go this way if we play the game of Chess well. They’re on the defense. Lets keep them there!
So what do we need to get us through these battles as unscathed and solid as possible? We need two things. We need to win hearts and minds of the people of the world and we need to get footholds in large areas where people use cryptos in daily life, not fiat. For this, Dash is the best tool, but the crypto community as a whole needs to band together to make this work! And because of our budget, Dash is in the best position to lead this charge.
If you have not noticed, the media is fully controlled by the governments today. There is no more freedom of the press anymore, except for small independent groups and individuals. Today’s mainstream media is pulled by the very same strings; not left, not right, none of that is even real. Who in America that isn’t brainwashed or mentally ill, really hates blacks, whites, browns yellows and purples? You really think “white” people care what color skin another person has? I’ll tell you, not any more than a black or brown or purple person is likely to hate a white or other color person. No, it’s a tool to divide and conquer. Birth control, abortion, wages, race; it’s all fodder to keep the people incensed and impudent. Nothing changes no matter who is in charge.
By supporting projects like The Free Thought Project, Ben Swann, and the crypto show (and their humanitarian aid arm) and more, we develop a relationship and allies. Our funding can empower free media, and in return we can expect that they will tell the truth about crypto. This is the absolutely best way to win hearts and minds in my opinion because even the most average of humans in the United States feels manipulated and that something isn’t right in the media, even if they can’t put their finger on it. If we can increase the reach of Truth in Media or any other such project, it will be the best tool we can hope for in this war.
Also, the importance of what we do in Venezuela and other South American countries, plus what we do for many countries in Africa cannot be under estimated. These are Dash’s and crypto’s foot holds. There is so much potential in Africa and South America, and digital currencies will free that potential. If you don’t know by now, you should know that it is corrupt banking or lack thereof that keeps the people in these parts of the world from participating economically in the world. If we get a real economy working in these parts of the world, these countries or areas have no debt, no love of western banking. They will be whole heartedly crypto. And nobody will be able to change that.
Either we win, or we drag this out forever, until the corrupt institutions of the world find a way to co-opt everything the crypto community have been trying to build. We look at the bottom line for what Ben Swann’s rate of return cost per click was, or we back media because it represents freedom as does cryptocurrency. We build a trust relationship with hard working young people in Africa, who are grass rooting their country and soon catapulting it to the top of the food chain, or we leave them and their potential high and dry because pictures aren’t enough proof, there “could” be waste in how they are functioning, or god forbit they “take us” for a dash or two. I don’t even think they’d ever even do that, they’re full of so much zest for building an economy in their homeland, but the narrow-minded fear we seem to have is starting to become irrational.
If you haven’t guessed by now, this letter to you, the Dash community is a request to support and vote for all the African, Venezuelan, Benn Swann, Truth in Media proposals because we NEED these people to win! Thank you so much for reading this and I apologize for posting this everywhere, but that is my intention.
If Ben was a true partners of DASH he would consider the other proposals we have this month, then look at the budget we have this month then consider gearing back his proposal to cover just his production costs for his shows so that we don't push out other important community projects. The costs to produce his shows only will still mean he can produce his shows but he just won't be building out his studio until we have enough funds in the budget. I believe it is around (150 DASH / Month to cover his production costs)
Either that or perhaps you could tell me which Venezuela or Africa community projects you are prepared we should exclude so that Ben can continue building out his studio?
Walter
After watching the videos Ben made available in recent weeks, I have no doubt that he is totally devoted to the case of our freedom, which is clearly eroding in a rapid pace. The future of cryptocurrencies is completely correlated with the freedom that we will be able to preserve - if the current process ends in the direction it is going, the only remainder of Satoshi heritage will be the cryptos controlled by governements and the others will be banned as "supporting terrorism and money laundering".
Looking at the current actions of the "legal" institutions we can be sure that they will do it without blinking an eye and the only legal reaction they leave to citizens is ... panic on the exchanges. Unfortunately without waking-up the sleeping part of society we will not be able stop this and I think Ben is one of the few people vocal enough to wake up crowds.
Recently, I see the Dash logo in YT channels, in which I have never seen it before and it is hard not to get the impression that it is thanks to Ben. Dash begins to be associated with freedom, the idea behind the creation of Bitcoin. Probably the majority of cryptocurren dream of such an association.
Crypto will be no different. We need to position our brand in such a way that we can consistently build up that 'share of mind' with the mass market. This cannot be done by sponsoring high profile stuff like Ben Swann or MMA for a week or two.. It requires long term commitments and partnerships.
Red Bull spend millions on their celebrity/sports endorsements, as well as sports and motor racing sponsorship's, and they'll stick at it for years because they know that it keeps their brand ever present in the minds of the masses. The result is that when you do make that purchase you will choose Red Bull over Blue Shark (or whatever the budget brand is) because it's the easy/safe option.
Please don't make the fundamental mistake of obsessing over the sticker price of a proposal rather then the long term value it brings to the network. We need to build our economic moat so that its big, strong and impossible to cross. To do this we need mass marketing that works and endorsements and sponsorships are the best way of achieving this 'share of mind' in the long run.. You only have to look at the market for celebrity/sports endorsements to see this. It's mega business for a reason.. Because it works!
Let's make Dash the easy/safe choice in crypto...
Walter
IIRC one thing that was talked about in the first proposal was a crypto based show when the studio finishes getting built, is that still on the table?
It would also be good to do some kind of Dash giveaways/contest to get people to set up wallets. I can help with ideas for that.
The only other thing I would request is a breakdown of how the budget has been spent so far and how much if any is left over.
Lastly, a rough breakdown of how the new 800 Dash a month will be allocated.
For future videos, please improve this by making "with Ben Swan" and "Powered by Dash" larger and thus more visible. Also, move the branding to a top corner of the screen.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/google-bans-crypto-ads.html
Facebook already did the same thing:
https://www.recode.net/2018/1/30/16950926/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-bans-crypto-advertising-bitcoin-james-altucher
The official reason is that they want to "protect" you from financial loss by preventing you from investing in some risky new crypto venture. I very much doubt that their primary motive is to protect you or me. Let's do the "follow the money" test. Who benefits by preventing people from finding out about honest money that is not controlled by your government or your bank? Well, the legacy banking system, that's who benefits.
But can they shut down a commercial news show like Reality Check? They might very well try, but it will be an uphill battle. Of course, Google owns YouTube, and YouTube has certainly ventured into the censorship business. But, alternatives like Steemit and D-Tube are providing viable alternative channels for content creators like Ben Swann. We have a fighting chance here.
I would urge the community to fund this proposal, and I would urge Ben Swann and team to look for cost cutting measures to make the next prop more affordable. There has to be a middle ground here. Let's not lose this avenue to get information out to the world.
solarguy
after watching a bunch of Ben's Videos I am seriously inspired by his work , this guy is doing a fantastic job of getting the objective truth unlike most media , although i believe its not a financially prudent thing to support Ben for dash ( almost costing 15% of the budget ) , I feel its a moral imperative to support Ben and his work.
I will start supporting this campaign with full heart if MNOs would consider my campaign to expand Dash Treasury in the Coming Months, the more money we have the more campaigns ( like this one ) can be supported instead of just burning dash on avoidable Electricty bills
https://www.dash.org/forum/threads/lets-expand-the-treasury-by-end-of-this-year.30283/
The file you shared about clicks to dash.org has a broken link as well. Could you re-upload that so we can see it properly?
I still think that DASH should not be involved in politics and of your 11 videos to date most are very political : https://www.youtube.com/user/BenSwannRealityCheck/videos
However I won't get into that and focus more on metrics on how this has benefitted DASH versus how much you personally have benefitted. How many people would say you have brought into dash? Very often those clicks to Dash.org are from people already in Dash that are watching your videos and want to make sure the link works.
Also are you willing to disclose how funds have so far been used?
And this is the kicker, I don't find his reporting unbiased at all. "Obama/Clinton to Blame for Slave Trade in Libya?" Then inside the video you have bad shots of them to further claims. I lived through this event, I remember when Gaddafi gunned down his own people, and I remember the no-fly zone in response from the UN and enforced by NATO (mostly backed by French pressure to intervene). The video is painting Gaddafi as some sort of saint when he did do terrorist attacks previously. The situation in Libya deteriorated for sure afterwards, but to say Obama and Clinton are to blame for the Slave Trade there, it just makes no sense to me.
Walter
I also get the feeling you are for it, why is that?
Walter
Having said that, I've already voted Yes because I don't want to leave you hanging after the first month. If this proposal passes, I hope this will be a good lesson learned to communicate with MNOs first (we have a mno-office channel in Discord just for this).
Keep changing the world.
I feel like many are longing for an "Andreas Antonopoulus" for Dash and hoping that you will take on that role and carry the wave of excitement out into the world. Now some are realizing that your priority is "Reality Check" and that as an entrepreneur you need a budget of 800 Dash. I think it would be good if we went further along the common path but can understand when there are critical comments on budget level and ROI.
As a European I can not do much with your topics from the USA, but I see you as a charismatic speaker, who can inspire the audience especially live.
You already have my vote now, as it would be irresponsible as a Dash Community to break off this 100 m run after a few meters. After the first proposal, it had to be clear to everyone that running costs would be incurred in the future after the initial investment.
Please help us to understand why you have calculated approximately $ 400,000.00 per month. How many employees have to be paid, in what amount are approximately travel, events, sponsoring, ... budgeted.
I do not come from the advertising industry and can not read it out of the proposal. But I would be glad about a short budget overview.
I think many would secretly see you as Dash's global ambassador, because you have everything a great seller needs. Help those critics find this wishful thinking in your proposal better.
I wish you success!
Real-world, widespread adoption is not just a matter of KPI and ROI and all of these data-crunching, specific metrics and calculations. These are all great things and a *factor* in widespread adoption, but they are not--in themselves--widespread adoption. Neither does speculative investment hype directly correlate to widespread adoption either.
In order for widespread adoption, things need to have social standing, a presence, a name, a face, all the things that factor in to "legitimacy" in our hyper-real world. Proposals like this one lend that to Dash. They take weird, imaginary internet money and bring it not only in to the spotlight, but for non-crypto people unlike us, in to perceived existence, in to something much more tangible and ascertainable than rumors and hearsay.
What Ben is doing is something significant, meaningful, and important in our world, and we have helped him continue to do it. Like it or not, we are *already* associated with his presence and efforts for posterity. Shall we suddenly turn our backs on him and by extension what he is doing just because we have miserly concerns about the budget?
Ben and his team have made many sacrifices partnering with us when the budget they thought they would have turned out to be something else, but they're still coming back to continue that partnership all the same. As far as I'm concerned, this is just backpay for Ben taking the risk relying us for funding. If we are going to have a professional presence and a name of any worth on the world stage, then we need to be known as an organization that follows through with its commitments, that supports the common good, that stands for something more than lining our pockets. The DAO is something that has never been done before, and is doing things that have never been done before, and what Ben is doing is also something that has never been done before. We are kindred in this task.
Yes, this is a substantial portion of the budget, but as I said, ROI is not only measured in clicks or wallet addresses or downloads or even Dash. Ben gives us a ROI that cannot be bought by the highest bidder, and provides us with a partnership we won't find anywhere else, not to mention the further opportunities and exposure his involvement has already brought to the DAO. What are the metrics for socio-political clout? How many Dash is the attention and interest of truth-seekers and independent, investigative journalists around the world worth? What is the KPI for ethical consistency and a good name? Ben could seek funding many places, but he came to us because of shared principles, values, and goals.
Now is not the time of bean counting and duff-pinching. Dash can afford this, and the world can't afford to be without it.
The problem I have is this: We are catering to the truthers, they are getting some studio quality UNBIASED content, which to my knowledge is unavailable anywhere else. I have been quit an active as truther myself, the reason I stopped was that all I see and heard were people bitching moaning and complaining.
But now hey ! they are giving a way to do something more, they can make Ben Swan's Reality check a reality, by going out and start buying some Dash. From what I have seen viewers of his show have not going through this process. For me the whole point was not some marketing campaign, it was to show some good will, and to show the truthers their is now crypto-currency which meets their needs allot better than, the Petro-dollar is doing, and take away the power from the people that are being 9/11, creating and funding terrorism and all that other stuff.
Probably a bit ignorant on my side to think they would come to this very conclusion all by themselves.
Basically what I am saying is for this to move forward I want the truthers to the right think, buy some dash, and show your support ! Most likely it will not even cost them but give them a decent return on investment.
This what I vote yes for:
DO some more create content as your delivering, but than make a video: explaining that Dash is funding you to show support to truth media, but the viewers now in turn need to show their support by buying some coins, and sign message's with there wallets containing "I support truth media"
They can for all I care buy less than a dollar worth of dash.
In short this is a 2 way street, we have soon good will from our end they should now from their end.
Gaining name recognition is different than getting clicks. Although the idea of asking people to purchase a little Dash to show support is a good one. That gets us more users too.
solarguy
They want instant results and if they are not completely satisfied they lobby for pulling the plug. That is not the way to grow our ecosystem.
If we are going to pull the plug after 3 months then we should have never funded Ben in the first place. A quick turncoat job like this just reflects badly on all of us.
(To be clear, I am not saying we need to fund him indefinitely, but that 3 months is (much) too short of a time period after which to decide to bail.)
Erm... Are you trying to pass off speculation as fact there?
Walter
Also once this advertising is over that is it. Its over. Other projects are sustainable projects that year after year are going to be working and promoting DASH as a currency. I want to fund those types of projects more. We have limited funds - we saw that last budget where the core team swallowed up a huge slice of the funds. 800 DASH could fund dozens of small projects that are all promoting DASH in a sustainable way. Sorry Ben.
Banner Impressions (including newsletter): 2,382,050
Total Reach: 55,584,346 (total reach projected for the entire 3 months was only 75 million, so we are well on our way)
Total Video Views: 5,089,008
(keep in mind this is only for ONE MONTH... KPI for March and April still coming... we are seeking renewal for May, June, July, August)
Other KPIs
Number of people paid in Dash: 18 people
Interviews:
RT: http://truthinmedia.com/ben-swann-watching-the-hawks/
Free Talk Live: http://truthinmedia.com/ben-swann-free-talk-live/
The Crypto Show: http://truthinmedia.com/crypto-show-ben-swann-returns-dash-powered-reality-check/
World Alternative Media: http://truthinmedia.com/ben-swann-interviewed-world-alternative-media/
The Conscious Resisitance: http://truthinmedia.com/ben-swann-interview-with-the-conscious-resistance-at-anarchapulco/
Press for Truth: http://truthinmedia.com/press-for-truth-interview-ben-swann-anarchapulco/
The Crypto Show 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-lmEVdtPKA
Dash Dinheiro Digital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofq8gT3mWM0
Conferences:
Attended
Anarchapulco
Attending:
Block2TheFuture, San Francisco, April 4 - 5
PorcFest, New Hampshire, June 19 - 24 (depending on further sponsorship by Dash)
Invited:
World Blockchain Forum, Dubai, UAE April 16 - 17
Oslo Blockchain Day, Oslo, Norway April 24
Libertopia, San Diego, May 3 - 6
Blockchain and Bitcoin Conference Australia, Sydney, Australia May 29
Blockchain International Show, London, UK May 29
Blockchain Expo, Santa Clara, CA November 28-29
Please note future blockchain events are subject to continued funding from Dash.
Notes and Comments:
We are continuing to build out our distribution platform. We have recently reached agreements with the LifeZette properties to feature Reality Check segments. LifeZette properties have approximately 50 million video views a month.
We have also recently added our videos to Roku.
Real Clear Politics has been picking up our Reality Check segment.
News publications, radio stations, TV stations, etc. from all over the world are contacting us to syndicate Reality Check.
We are expecting even higher video view numbers and reach in March.
In February, we also sent over 4,800 clicks to dash.org.
1500 people. Lyn Ulbricht is speaking and Danny from the crypto show is bringing his gear.
You will get the chance to meet physicians that are risking it all in the name of patient freedom. There is usually a big NFL following and a veteran following.
Hope you can make and good luck with the renewal.
We must win hearts and minds of the people. We are doing something great with the Ben sponsorship. I saw a lot of comments after Anarchapulco. People are taking notice and starting to think in completely new ways.
We are giving hope to those that are feeling pressured to speak only the mainstream narrative. People like Ben can wake up the masses and make them aware of what is really going on.
For example, imagine a situation where media pushes for American military intervention in Venezuela telling everyone that it's a great thing and there is nobody to push back with facts to the contrary? That's not really a far-fetched scenario
( if venezuela gets nuked , we can look at other countries ).
i havent been to Anarchapulco , so i cant really comment on that bit , but i can tell you this , nobody gives a shit about PR in crypto anymore , everybody knows every coin is doing PR, all people care about is user base and partnerships ( being brutally honest )
1. Thousands and thousands of hype-fueled pumpers live and breathe PR.
2. Dash isn't just for people "in crypto." It's for everyone. That's what "widespread adoption" means, not just crypto-approval, but global, mainstream appeal. Without people like Ben, we cannot have that.
Whether you think it is a overpay or not — the 4800 clicks were for the first month only.
Ben was paid 800 Dash in early January. Let’s use the 4th as a representative date as we don’t know exactly when he converted to fiat.
Dash closed at $1229 according to CMC so it “cost” us a little less than $1M (983K) for the views in February. Also, considering how fast the price dropped it is very likely he secured much less fiat for the first month than my estimate. In any case, my estimate is half of the number in your post. Let’s tone down the hyperbole, shall we.
Finally, I expect that the views and resulting clicks to go up as the project continues to grow providing us more value.
Again MNOs , please please think with your Minds, not with your love for Ben Swann , Numbers are what matters the most .
Feedbands and strike social are doing a great job , give them more money and we can get much better results instead
Yes but as we found out today that will soon end as google is banning crypto. We need Ben and all the other alternative media projects right now more than ever. Price is really the only issue for all these projects and i've just started to dig deep into those numbers.
We are not 100billion+ organization to splurge on luxuries like this, when we are that big, I would be happy to support these type of activities
Serious question, have any other projects we’ve funded produced hard numbers that surpass this figure?
I am not directing this just at you. Can any of the NO voters answer this question?
Things like sponsoring Ben, however, can’t be banned so easily — especially since he is spreading his work around to decentralized platforms like dtube.
MNOs should consider the merits of such a proposal if it is posted, but right now you are comparing Ben’s proposal to a strawman proposal of your choosing.
This budget proposal has my support.
I think one of the core components of a free and informed society is independent journalism. Dash supporting Ben is much more important than some short-term market gain, but it is definitely raising the visibility of Dash in all sorts of media also. Anyone that claims otherwise is not paying attention.
I'm voting yes, of course.
If you would submit a proposal solely for producing content (minus the construction of the studio) until "Dash can afford this" comes back I would be more inclined to be positive. We have to be lean and mean with such a full budget and low valuation. I think this would be in the range of 100 Dash/mo., plus expenses to events where you've committed to speaking.
To push this idea, we would need to be sure that they are in a position to pause those plans indefinitely (as we don’t know when “Dash can afford this” goodness will return).
Now, he can do honest journalism and ask the hard questions again. In very short order, he has more than 100,000 subscribers and each video quickly gets 20-30,000 views. And note that they made the Dash logo much bigger.
He is also doing crypto specific stories as well. There are at least 6 specific references to Dash in this 6:30 video and quotes Joel V (aka desert lynx) extensively:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpBU_OtVai0
and many more references to how crypto works, compared to how fiat dollars work. It is a fantastic educational resource for people who think crypto is backed by nothing. Show me any other six and half minute video that conveys that any better.
solarguy
No denying that Ben Swann has a massive, MASSIVE reach.
Continuing to fund this will inform a ton of people about the existence of Dash — potentially bringing many new users.
Also, I recommend taking the time to watch the Reality Check on crypto he linked in the description — it was very well done.
the network spend alreddy 2400 Dash and the network did get way to littel back for that. (no one uses Dash more since then)
I did watch most of this Videos and from my Point its not worth 800 Dash a month. Ben Swan is getting also add reveniews Youtube/Facebook and D.tube (~$300k per Video on Dtube) steam rewards waht is totaly fine with me but should reduce he Cost of this proposal.
Tie so much DASH per month to 1 Proposal to fulfill the Benn swan dream and not the DASH Dream irresponsible for me.
Is Ben a good Spoksman for DASH yes sould he get payed from the Netwok also Yes. im ok with 100-200 Dash a month.
p.s. there are fare Importent proposals who need to get fundet.
It may seem too far fetched to those who believe the crock we're fed daily on network TV, but this is actually important to the survival of crypto-currencies. We have to win the hearts and minds of a majority of the people in the world, especially those in the USA, Canada, Europe and GB. Because they have the most power, and the least need for crypto-currencies. Just keep doing what you're doing. "Powered by Dash" is cute, and perfect IMHO. You have my vote.
Hahahahah. Why this is being funded. $399957 / 4800 = $83 per click. But wait, there's a Dash logo in a video! Yeah, but we can't track ROI. Same issue with a logo in an MMA fighter's cap. Same issue with a logo in a fighter jet.
There's no proof whatsoever that this money is being well spent, that is bringing any value to the network, or that it ever will.
Can anyone please show me some light what exactly dash gained from his previous proposals?
Try not to miss the TINY sub-sub-logo he allocated for DASH. Take a look at the comments and see if anyone at all is talking about DASH.
The truth here is that Ben is simply using the treasury to "BUILD OUT HIS STUDIO".
It is outlandish of him to suggest that his attendance to Porcfest is contingent on the community approving this proposal, since that was a separate proposal that has already been funded by the community:
PorcFest Sponsorship Proposal (Keynote by Ben Swann)
https://www.dashcentral.org/p/porcfest
It will be a disgrace if this treasury once again falls for Ben's minor-celebrity status and renews funding for his show.
By the way, a key point in the above sentence is that Reality Check is a news program. Given that it is a news program, it would come off as completely disingenuous as well as be off-putting if he featured a big Dash logo or often gave Dash shoutouts. It is a news spot — not a Dash pump video. Plus, EVERY episode begins with “Reality Check powered by Dash” — clearly stated by a narrator. To anybody watching, the sponsor is quite clear.
As for comments, not everyone who views a video will comment. Therefore, no definitive statements can be made from looking comment content.
And you might be right, he may indeed be a “minor-celebrity” — I won’t get into a debate about celebrity status rankings here... but I can’t name one other project funded by the DAO where there is HARD DATA that shows that 5 million people were exposed to the Dash name and logo in just 2.5 months.
Can you?
Finally, you need to reread the PorcFest proposal. We paid for the Exclusive Diamond Sponsorship and well as some other small items like an additional vending table. NOWHERE in the proposal was it stated that any of the money was to buy Ben Swann’s time, travel, or anything else related to him appearing to speak. We might have paid for speaking slots, but that doesn’t guarantee that we get Ben Swann (or anybody else for that matter) for one of those slots.
You already use 13% of tresory last 3 months, with no result in Dash adoption. (At the level of the price ask). And you ask 13% for the next 4 months.
Ben video views = Ben video views, not Dash adoption.
It inflationnary Dash->Fiat for nothing for Dash.
best regards,
solarguy