ProPublica to help local reporters find struggling homeowners

The following announcement was sent out Thursday by Mike Webb, director of communications of ProPublica.org:

“ProPublica is launching a new project where we hope to pair local journalists with struggling homeowners in the loan modification program.  We’re doing this because more than 800 homeowners have shared their stories with us about the numerous problems they’ve had in obtaining a modification.  We’ve shared many of their stories in our reports, but there are just too many to publish.  So we’re hoping local reporters can talk to the homeowners and local banks to help your readers understand how the program works (or doesn’t work).

“If you’re a journalist, sign up here and we’ll put you in contact with a homeowner in your area.  If you’re a homeowner, share your story with us so that we can match you up with a local reporter.  And here’s a map so that you can pinpoint the location of a homeowner who needs help.  As Paul Kiel and Amanda Michel note in their introduction, ‘Often, the media can be the most effective recourse for homeowners who have nowhere else to turn.’

“If local reporters are able to produce a story based on our pairing, please cite ProPublica and link to our loan mod section or a story.  And if you have any questions about the project, please feel free to contact me, Amanda or Paul.  Thanks for your help and please spread the word.”

Contact Mike at Mike.Webb@propublica.org or at 917-512-0233 (office) and 917-660-1846 (cell).