UPNEWS redefines traditional journalism by providing a platform for ordinary people who often feel barriers to entry in mainstream media channels. Traditional media frequently focuses on celebrities or commercially appealing content, leaving local stories and issues around us unnoticed. With UPNEWS, anyone can become a “field reporter,” easily sharing underrepresented stories from the field and earning rewards for their contributions. For instance, individuals can highlight issues requiring assistance or action, such as homeless shelters, abandoned dog rescue centers, or dangerously neglected steel structures. They can also share stories about local events, culture, grassroots movements, or heartwarming
tales. Additionally, real-time events can be reported, where ordinary citizens share photos,videos, and testimonies directly from the scene. This firsthand information provides an initial explanation before traditional media gathers news materials, enabling the rapid delivery of breaking news immediately after incidents occur. This method of reporting democratizes
the flow of information, allowing the general public to take on part of the media’s role and raising awareness about topics that are often underrepresented or marginalized. It also fosters a sense of ownership and engagement in the news process, empowering individuals to shape the dialogue surrounding their own communities.

One of UPNEWS’s key innovations is a reward system that uses blockchain-based tokens to incentivize the creation of accurate and valuable content. Unlike other platforms where contributors may submit low-quality or misleading content for views, UPNEWS links financial rewards to reliability and engagement, preventing this behavior. Contributors earn tokens by having their content evaluated for accuracy and newsworthiness within the ommunity,
with higher credibility and engagement leading to more tokens. Additionally, contributors are only rewarded for submitting trustworthy news items, naturally reducing fake news and low-quality content. This system fosters a stronger news ecosystem, motivating both experts and citizens to report local events.

UPNEWS uses the DAO model to review and curate content. A DAO is a blockchain-based system that allows the community to collaborate and make decisions without central authority. When a draft article is submitted, DAO members review it, vote for or against the content, evaluate it based on set criteria, and provide feedback. Instead of a single editor making decisions, the DAO enables decentralized governance, allowing diverse opinions to
contribute to content selection, minimizing the risks of bias or central control, and leading to a democratic process. Additionally, before articles are published, the community collaborates to improve and refine them, ensuring they meet journalistic standards. This process helps maintain high-quality output while encouraging community engagement.

Unlike decentralized platforms that rely entirely on user-generated content, UPNEWS ensures the accuracy of content by involving professional journalists in the verification process. After the DAO approves the article, rofessional journalists verify the facts through on-site visits, witness interviews, and cross-checking information with official sources, thereby increasing the credibility of the content. Through this, UPNEWS maintains a balance between grassroots media and verified content, and encourages contributors to trust and rely on the platform’s high standards. This approach acts as a safety net for journalism that prevents contributors from distorting or omitting information and prevents errors.

UPNEWS creates an inclusive and comprehensive news ecosystem by combining grassroots reporting, community-based improvement, and expert verification. By combining citizen journalism with professional journalist oversight, we bridge the gap between informal, community-driven news and the trusted reporting of traditional media, allowing voices to be heard from a wide range of individuals, from ordinary citizens to trained journalists. We
also provide a sustained spotlight on marginalized groups, such as homelessness, social justice issues, and animal welfare, that are often overlooked by mainstream media, and we foster inclusion and encourage diversity in our regions and communities by ensuring that local stories get the attention they deserve.