{"title": "Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3", "logoImg": "bafkreiakvvdcc7aygtuady25bmvyrnnvey2lvyzyjkxdacrs6m4e4bvhja", "website": "https://bit.ly/The_CCIJ_in_Web3", "bannerImg": "bafkreidq3ygma4s465vdvnkpxrocvknu675kpycogkigrwt7jjqf7iee2i", "createdAt": 1729618872700, "userGithub": "Serena Stelitano AKA Serste", "credentials": {"twitter": {"type": ["VerifiableCredential"], "proof": {"jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il0sImI2NCI6ZmFsc2V9..IZgnaTxqejwR_rGWwH_CTkgg8GwIk2WFJOYg5N1kNV68jn3nOuujLWcN7I664LSaswF0_PoXeOznVEaCbskhCA", "type": "Ed25519Signature2018", "created": "2024-10-22T17:23:07.509Z", "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod", "verificationMethod": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC#z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC"}, "issuer": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC", "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"], "issuanceDate": "2024-10-22T17:23:07.508Z", "expirationDate": "2025-01-20T17:23:07.508Z", "credentialSubject": {"id": "did:pkh:eip155:1:0x20dA165deB81dBB042fE4A9d4808399eF2477c5d", "hash": "v0.0.0:V43osPcVMvzaCNI4IP5wuF4TA8rBINyCoJH5y9zWGu0=", "@context": [{"hash": "https://schema.org/Text", "provider": "https://schema.org/Text"}], "provider": "ClearTextTwitter#Serste2"}}}, "description": "# Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3\n\n*Bringing decentralized journalism to the metaverse and beyond.*\n\n## Overview\n\n**Project Name:** Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3  \n**Team Members:**\n- Jeff Kelly Lowenstein: Founder and Executive Director\n- Nelly Kalu: Project Manager\n- Yuxi Wang: Data Scientist\n- Sotiris Sideris: Data Editor\n- Nic Bothma: Visual Editor\n- Jillian Dudziak: Design & Strategy Director\n- Fola Folayan: Digital Marketing Manager\n- Serena Stelitano: Metaverse Designer & Builder\n\n### Description\n\n\"Extending Underrepresented Realities\" seeks to expand the reach of untold stories from underrepresented communities using Web3 and decentralized technologies. Since 2021, the **Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ)** has pioneered immersive, data-driven investigative journalism. Now, we aim to take this further by developing **XR**, **AR**, and **VR** tools that allow audiences to engage with investigative journalism in powerful new ways.\n\nBy utilizing **decentralized platforms** like the **Arbitrum One network**, this project offers immersive storytelling, dynamic NFTs, and innovative participation models that bring **community-curated journalism** to a global audience.\n\nOur goal is to:\n1. Build decentralized, tokenized investigative journalism platforms.\n2. Foster active community involvement through **Quadratic Funding** and **dynamic NFTs**.\n3. Ensure **accessibility** and **social impact**, particularly in regions like Africa, where media access and political freedom are often constrained.\n\n---\n\n## Problem We Are Solving\n\nTraditional journalism often leaves behind communities whose stories need more attention. Even when stories are told, they may lack the depth, richness, or nuance necessary for audiences to truly understand the gravity of the issues. Moreover, the centralized nature of most media organizations inhibits decentralized participation.\n\nWith Web3 and XR technologies, we can:\n- Enable **community ownership** over the narratives through NFTs.\n- Ensure **authentic storytelling** by **rewarding community members** for contributing.\n- Create **dynamic, data-driven visuals** that adapt to ongoing investigations.\n\n---\n\n## Key Features and Innovations\n\n- **XR-Enabled Storytelling:** As part of this project\u2019s future development, we will build immersive XR experiences around critical stories like [*Democracy Deferred*](https://veza.news/investigative-series/democracy-deferred/), which will cover major electoral events, starting with Nigeria\u2019s 2023 elections. These experiences will be accessible through **VR headsets**, **desktop**, and **mobile phones**.\n- **Community-Curated NFTs:** Using **ERC-7160** standard on **Arbitrum**, we will mint dynamic NFTs that evolve over time based on **community voting** and engagement.\n- **AR Data Visualizations:** We plan to integrate **AR-powered data visualizations** as a future development to transform investigative data into **interactive visuals**. For example, in our upcoming *Beyond the Facade* project, AR will allow users to visualize the effects of Nigerian election cancellations using face-triggered interactions.\n\n\n- **Accessibility Focus:** Our content spans **multiple platforms**, ensuring participation by users with low-end devices.\n\n---\n\n## Why Quadratic Funding?\n\nQuadratic Funding ensures that **small contributors** have an outsized impact, fostering community-driven support for projects that deliver **social good**. With CCIJ's focus on **underrepresented voices** and decentralization, Quadratic Funding aligns perfectly with our mission to democratize access to investigative journalism and technology.\n\n**We aim to leverage the 300,000 USDC matching pool** to:\n1. Fund the **development and minting** of dynamic NFTs that evolve with ongoing investigations.\n2. Build the **AR/XR tools** that will enhance audience interaction with our stories.\n3. Facilitate **community workshops**, empowering people to vote on and curate the images and data visualizations that tell their stories.\n\n---\n\n## Roadmap and Use of Funds\n\n### Phase 1: Development (November 2024 - February 2025)\n- **Mint VEZA Tokens** as dynamic NFTs on Arbitrum.\n- Begin building the **AR/XR experiences** for future storytelling projects, including *Democracy Deferred*.\n- Conduct **community voting and curation** workshops.\n\n### Phase 2: Expansion (March 2025 - May 2025)\n- Launch **public-facing tools** for AR-based data visualization (starting with Nigeria and expanding to other regions).\n- Expand the **XR newsroom** to engage more investigative journalists and data scientists.\n\n### Phase 3: Outreach and Impact (June 2025 onwards)\n- Engage a global audience, particularly from Africa, with **mobile-accessible experiences**.\n- **Promote decentralized journalism** through partnerships, conferences, and social media.\n\n---\n\n## Links and Media\n\n- **[Democracy Deferred VR](https://bit.ly/Voxels-ShieldYourVote-PollTables)** \n- **[The CCIJ in Web3](https://bit.ly/The_CCIJ_in_Web3)** \n\n\n## Conclusion\n\nBy supporting **Extending Underrepresented Realities**, you're contributing to the **future of decentralized journalism**, making it possible for untold stories from around the world to reach new audiences. With your help, we will create a **community-owned media ecosystem** that is as diverse and dynamic as the world we live in.\n\nTogether, let's empower communities through **decentralization** and **Web3**.\n\n---\n\n### Contact Us\n**Website:** [The Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism](https://ccij.io)  \n", "logoImgData": {}, "bannerImgData": {}, "projectGithub": "The-CCIJ", "projectTwitter": "serste2"}
Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3
# Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3

*Bringing decentralized journalism to the metaverse and beyond.*

## Overview

**Project Name:** Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3  
**Team Members:**
- Jeff Kelly Lowenstein: Founder and Executive Director
- Nelly Kalu: Project Manager
- Yuxi Wang: Data Scientist
- Sotiris Sideris: Data Editor
- Nic Bothma: Visual Editor
- Jillian Dudziak: Design & Strategy Director
- Fola Folayan: Digital Marketing Manager
- Serena Stelitano: Metaverse Designer & Builder

### Description

"Extending Underrepresented Realities" seeks to expand the reach of untold stories from underrepresented communities using Web3 and decentralized technologies. Since 2021, the **Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ)** has pioneered immersive, data-driven investigative journalism. Now, we aim to take this further by developing **XR**, **AR**, and **VR** tools that allow audiences to engage with investigative journalism in powerful new ways.

By utilizing **decentralized platforms** like the **Arbitrum One network**, this project offers immersive storytelling, dynamic NFTs, and innovative participation models that bring **community-curated journalism** to a global audience.

Our goal is to:
1. Build decentralized, tokenized investigative journalism platforms.
2. Foster active community involvement through **Quadratic Funding** and **dynamic NFTs**.
3. Ensure **accessibility** and **social impact**, particularly in regions like Africa, where media access and political freedom are often constrained.

---

## Problem We Are Solving

Traditional journalism often leaves behind communities whose stories need more attention. Even when stories are told, they may lack the depth, richness, or nuance necessary for audiences to truly understand the gravity of the issues. Moreover, the centralized nature of most media organizations inhibits decentralized participation.

With Web3 and XR technologies, we can:
- Enable **community ownership** over the narratives through NFTs.
- Ensure **authentic storytelling** by **rewarding community members** for contributing.
- Create **dynamic, data-driven visuals** that adapt to ongoing investigations.

---

## Key Features and Innovations

- **XR-Enabled Storytelling:** As part of this project’s future development, we will build immersive XR experiences around critical stories like [*Democracy Deferred*](https://veza.news/investigative-series/democracy-deferred/), which will cover major electoral events, starting with Nigeria’s 2023 elections. These experiences will be accessible through **VR headsets**, **desktop**, and **mobile phones**.
- **Community-Curated NFTs:** Using **ERC-7160** standard on **Arbitrum**, we will mint dynamic NFTs that evolve over time based on **community voting** and engagement.
- **AR Data Visualizations:** We plan to integrate **AR-powered data visualizations** as a future development to transform investigative data into **interactive visuals**. For example, in our upcoming *Beyond the Facade* project, AR will allow users to visualize the effects of Nigerian election cancellations using face-triggered interactions.


- **Accessibility Focus:** Our content spans **multiple platforms**, ensuring participation by users with low-end devices.

---

## Why Quadratic Funding?

Quadratic Funding ensures that **small contributors** have an outsized impact, fostering community-driven support for projects that deliver **social good**. With CCIJ's focus on **underrepresented voices** and decentralization, Quadratic Funding aligns perfectly with our mission to democratize access to investigative journalism and technology.

**We aim to leverage the 300,000 USDC matching pool** to:
1. Fund the **development and minting** of dynamic NFTs that evolve with ongoing investigations.
2. Build the **AR/XR tools** that will enhance audience interaction with our stories.
3. Facilitate **community workshops**, empowering people to vote on and curate the images and data visualizations that tell their stories.

---

## Roadmap and Use of Funds

### Phase 1: Development (November 2024 - February 2025)
- **Mint VEZA Tokens** as dynamic NFTs on Arbitrum.
- Begin building the **AR/XR experiences** for future storytelling projects, including *Democracy Deferred*.
- Conduct **community voting and curation** workshops.

### Phase 2: Expansion (March 2025 - May 2025)
- Launch **public-facing tools** for AR-based data visualization (starting with Nigeria and expanding to other regions).
- Expand the **XR newsroom** to engage more investigative journalists and data scientists.

### Phase 3: Outreach and Impact (June 2025 onwards)
- Engage a global audience, particularly from Africa, with **mobile-accessible experiences**.
- **Promote decentralized journalism** through partnerships, conferences, and social media.

---

## Links and Media

- **[Democracy Deferred VR](https://bit.ly/Voxels-ShieldYourVote-PollTables)** 
- **[The CCIJ in Web3](https://bit.ly/The_CCIJ_in_Web3)** 


## Conclusion

By supporting **Extending Underrepresented Realities**, you're contributing to the **future of decentralized journalism**, making it possible for untold stories from around the world to reach new audiences. With your help, we will create a **community-owned media ecosystem** that is as diverse and dynamic as the world we live in.

Together, let's empower communities through **decentralization** and **Web3**.

---

### Contact Us
**Website:** [The Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism](https://ccij.io)  

Extending Underrepresented Realities - The CCIJ in Web3