That sounds neat, but I wonder how they pay their bills.

I guess it depends on the depth of analysis and quantity of reporting. It's one thing to write a summary of the school board or town council meeting. That probably isn't a full time job. If there's more detailed reporting, fact checking, etc, involved I begin to worry about the implicit bias that creeps in when only certain people can afford to do it.

They have day jobs or are retired. We have a local newspaper, which we performatively fundraise for (it's doing fine), and it staffs full-time reporters; the people doing it for free out of interest, on Facebook, crush them newspaper.