Reality Check to be Sponsored by SmartCash?

Independent journalist Ben Swann is seeking to fund his show using the Smarthive

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@benswann, fresh off his DASH sponsorship, is seeking to fund ongoing operations of Reality Check through a Smarthive proposal. If you hold SmartCash and wish to vote on this proposal, you can find the full details here.

Swann is asking for the current equivalent of 4.8 million SmartCash, or $356,004, in order to fund Reality Check and make SmartCash the exclusive sponsor of the show. The sponsorship would run from August until December, and would feature the following components related to SmartCash:

SmartCash name and logo as part of the animated open for each episode including a verbal announcer who says “Reality Check w/ Ben Swann Powered by SmartCash.

Lower third bug. “Ben Swann’s Reality Check Powered By SmartCash” and will be seen on all platforms listed above and more as we expand our network.

Dedicated Smartcash Bug on the opposite side of the screen which states “powered by SmartCash throughout the episode.

Ben Swann and team go to one, US based, blockchain conference a month (3 total) to promote SmartCash. Live stream on Facebook and Instagram with SmartCash logo on the screen. Social promotion before and after the event. The events have not been picked yet, and we would love the SmartCash community’s feedback on where in the US you would like us to go.

As of now, I'm unsure of my stance on this proposal

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I greatly admire and respect the work of Ben Swann. When he was in the mainstream media, his reporting certainly stood apart from the crowd, obviously leading to his eventual departure from the MSM.

I hate to use the term 'fair and balanced', as Fox News has mostly polluted this phrase, but Swann strikes me as someone dedicated to unpacking and examining issues without derisive, partisan rhetoric and avoids excessive fearmongering or sensationalism found in some other alternative media sources.

That being said, this is clearly a MASSIVE amount of SmartCash being requested, and I believe it would probably be the largest project ever funded through the SmartHive. Assuming prices remain unchanged, 4.8 million Smart is .29% of the entire current supply.

It's hard to say if Swann has been worth the investment for DASH holders. DASH, much like all cryptocurrencies, has plummeted in value since Swann's sponsorship was approved. I believe this is due to overall market trends more than anything else, but it's worth pointing out.

Is Swann worth the money?

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As a SmartCash proponent and holder, I clearly want to see this project succeed. Having Swann's influence boosting the profile of SmartCash could be a great way to get the name of the project
out there to potential investors beyond the fairly insulated crypto-space.

But could 4.8 million Smart be spent more efficiently? I can foresee a ton of different projects being funded, with the outcome being potentially greater for the SmartCash ecosystem than one, singular project such as Reality Check.

Currently, the project is set to be approved with 67% of the vote in favor. With 583 votes thus far, it's certainly one of the most popular proposals ever submitted to the hive.

I'm currently 50-50 on where I stand on this proposal. What is your take on Ben Swann receiving SmartCash funding?