Convincing editors to fund story pitches can take months – even years. But through the nonprofit Web site Spot.Us, the community is funding one story per week on average.
Spot.Us is a nonprofit that enables journalists to solicit donations from the public to pay for their reporting. Most donors give around $20, and all are named. Anyone can propose a story, although the editors at Spot.Us decide which stories to pursue. Read more
YPNation is rounding out Black History Month by spotlighting an outstanding "Young Professional of Color" each day this week. Today's pick is Leanna Archer, CEO of Leanna's Inc., a custom-made hair care and body products line. But she isn't your typical young professional--Archer is a 14-year-old, ninth-grade student from Long Island, N.Y.
Why is the YPNation spotlight on Leanna Archer? Read more
You may have heard of the controversial dating site beautifulpeople.com when CNN covered its decision last month to cleanse its membership of about 5,000 people because they had gained weight over the holidays. You can only join if existing members deem you attractive enough, and the added pounds were reason enough to be expelled. Read more
YPNation will round out Black History Month by spotlighting an outstanding "Young Professional of Color" each day this week. They are pioneers in fields from business to blogging, serving as an inspiration to other YP's looking to excel in their own right. They are, without question, YP's to watch.
Today's pick is Vashtie Kola. Also known as “Downtown’s Sweetheart,” Kola is an Albany, N.Y., native, and alumni of the Manhattan-based School of Visual Arts with an imposing resume. Read more
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. But that doesn't mean you have to run and hide from the sappy Hallmark side of the holiday. There are ways to celebrate love--whether its with your friends, your family or your 'better half'--without getting swept up in the hype. Read more
The other night I was chatting with a friend who has two babies. We were brainstorming the possibilities for home-based businesses for moms or dads who stay home with the kids. Running a daycare would be a “stop-gap” she said – barely bringing in enough to make it worthwhile.
I've also heard ideas on the complete opposite end of the home-based business spectrum. My old roommate, for example, wanted to start a Web site called “pantyfarm.com.” God only knows what the repercussions of that would be. Read more
Darley Newman fell in love with horses and travel at an early age. And after paying her dues at networks such as CBS and The WB, Newman used her budding experience in television and merged her two passions to create an Emmy winning travel series, Equitrekking. Read more
Winter has arrived and whether you plan on making the most of the snowy season at a popular ski resort, escaping to a warmer destination, or attending a winter festival, you’ll definitely want to get the most from your travel budget. And with the holiday travel price hikes behind us now is a great time to find some deals when you book your winter getaway. Read more
The way we look at food in this country is changing. Mounting evidence shows that we need to start eating food that is fresher and less processed if we want to improve our health and our environment.
As we start asking more questions about where our food comes from, the benefits of small, sustainable farms become more apparent. And more and more young people are starting to think, I can do that. But with prohibitive land prices and overhead costs, young people have to find creative ways to break into the industry. Read more
Gabrielle Bernstein has paved her path to success by sharing her life strategies with others. Not your typical self-help guru, she is a life coach and motivational speaker for the next generation. This month Bernstein launches her self-transformational book, Add More ~ing to Your Life – A hip guide to happiness. In her book, Bernstein guides the reader through her dynamic "~ing Equation," a method of sharpening one's intuitive senses and activating untapped inspiration. Read more