Decentralized Media & News Platform on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Caleb Montiel

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Steven – Artificial Intelligence Specialist

Diego – Visual Artist

Jonathan – Website Developer

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will build a news & media platform using DIDs, ZK, veracity bonds, smart contracts, and a token economy to reward truthful news reporting, leveraging Cardano’s scalability, low fees, and security.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The platform will be open source, with all code and token mechanisms available for public review, modification, and community contributions. This ensures transparency and encourages continuous improvement.

[METADATA] Horizons

Social Media

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Proposed Solution

Problem Perception:

The current media and news ecosystem faces issues like misinformation, censorship, and engagement farming, which hinder the delivery of high-quality, truthful content. Traditional platforms often manipulate information flow based on profit-driven algorithms, undermining public trust and causing societal divisions. Additionally, users have limited tools to verify the authenticity of news sources and hold media outlets accountable.

Reasons for Approach:

We propose to solve this issue by building a decentralized media and news platform on Cardano, leveraging decentralized identifiers (DIDs), zero-knowledge proofs (ZK), veracity bonds, and a token economy. These tools will allow for verifiable and transparent reporting where creators and reporters are incentivized to provide truthful, high-quality content. The approach emphasizes decentralization, ensuring that control and curation of information are not governed by centralized entities but by a community-driven consensus mechanism.

Who Will the Project Engage?

The platform will engage a global audience, including:

1. Journalists and Content Creators: Offering them tools and incentives to publish truthful and verifiable news content.
2. Readers and Viewers: Empowering them to interact with and verify content authenticity using blockchain technology.
3. Governments and NGOs: Promoting transparency and providing a trustworthy platform for publishing verified information.
4. Cardano Community: Strengthening its ecosystem by building a unique use case that demonstrates the scalability and security of Cardano.

Demonstrating and Proving Impact:

• Transparency through Veracity Bonds: Users and creators will be incentivized to back up claims with verifiable facts or put stakes on the accuracy of their content, leading to a self-regulating environment that promotes truth.
• Community Engagement Metrics: Tracking the number of creators, published articles, and user interactions (e.g., fact-checking, flagging misinformation) will measure engagement.
• Adoption and Retention: User growth, retention, and content quality will be tracked to measure how much the platform attracts and retains people seeking trustworthy information.

Why This is Important to Cardano:

Cardano's scalability, low fees, and high security make it the perfect blockchain for this endeavor. By integrating Cardano's smart contracts and decentralized identity tools, this project can demonstrate a real-world use case of how blockchain can solve critical societal issues while expanding Cardano's impact in the media industry.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

This platform will tackle the widespread issue of misinformation across all sectors, not just crypto. By enabling community-driven fact-checking and utilizing tokenized rewards, the platform will promote truthfulness and transparency in news reporting. This will help build trust not only in blockchain but in a broad range of industries by providing verified, credible news sources. By fostering informed decision-making, the platform strengthens the Cardano ecosystem's reputation for innovation and reliability, driving adoption and reinforcing confidence in decentralized solutions.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver this decentralized media and news platform due to our collective experience in blockchain technology, decentralized applications, and community-driven projects.

Demonstrated Capabilities:

1. Blockchain Expertise: Caleb Montiel, the project lead, is a recognized Cardano DRep and Ambassador with deep knowledge of the Cardano ecosystem. He has successfully managed decentralized projects, contributing to the growth of Cardano's community in Paraguay. His understanding of decentralized identity solutions, smart contracts, and blockchain governance ensures that we have the leadership to navigate the technical challenges of this platform.
2. Technical Team: Our development team includes skilled blockchain engineers, UI/UX designers, and AI specialists. We have professionals with experience in integrating GPT-powered AI tools and handling decentralized identity (DID) systems, ensuring seamless content verification and user interactions. Our team has a track record of delivering secure, scalable, and user-friendly solutions in the blockchain space.

Steps to Ensure Accountability and Proper Fund Management:

1. Open-Source Development: All code and development processes will be transparent, published in open-source repositories like GitHub. This ensures continuous community oversight and allows contributors from the wider Cardano ecosystem to audit and contribute to the project.
2. Milestone-Based Progress: We will manage the project using a milestone-based approach. This means that funds will only be accessed after each milestone is completed, ensuring that progress is transparent and accountable. Milestones will include technical development, testing, and user feedback phases.
3. Community Feedback and Testing: We will regularly engage with the Cardano community for feedback, ensuring the platform's development meets their needs. User testing will help ensure the platform is both functional and secure, minimizing risks and enabling us to address issues early.
4. Regular Reporting: As a decentralized project, we will maintain regular, transparent updates on fund usage, project milestones, and community engagement. These reports will be shared through Cardano's official channels to maintain trust and demonstrate responsible fund management.

This combination of technical expertise, transparent processes, and community-driven development provides a solid foundation to ensure the successful delivery of the platform and responsible management of funds.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Platform Backend Development (Months 1-3)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Development and completion of the platform’s backend infrastructure, which includes user account management (DIDs), smart contract logic, and veracity bond integration.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Backend system operational with user registration and authentication via DIDs.
• Smart contract deployed and tested for veracity bond functionality.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Screenshots and demo video of the functional backend system.
• GitHub repository with open-source code.

Milestone 2: Frontend Development & UI/UX Design (Months 4-5)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Creation of a user-friendly interface for accessing news, posting content, and interacting with the platform.
• UI/UX design optimized for both desktop and mobile users.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Fully functional frontend integrated with the backend, supporting content curation and user interactions.
• Completion of beta testing with user feedback incorporated.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Live demonstration of the platform’s user interface.
• Feedback report and improvement implementations.

Milestone 3: AI-Powered Content Filtering and Fact-Checking Module (Months 6-7)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Integration of AI tools for automatic content moderation and fact-checking.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• AI module is operational and able to flag suspicious or unverified content.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• AI functionality demonstration video.
• Report on AI performance and effectiveness from test cases.

Milestone 4: Token Economy and Incentives System (Months 8-9)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Implementation of the token economy to reward truthful reporting and content verification (integrating Cardano’s token standards).

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Token system operational with smart contracts facilitating payments and veracity bonds.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Publicly available transaction logs and smart contract interactions.
• Video demo showing token distribution mechanisms.

Milestone 5: Community Engagement & Onboarding Campaign (Months 10-11)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Launch of community engagement initiatives, including social media, educational content, and tutorials.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Active community participation with a minimum of 500 registered users.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Analytics report on user signups and participation.
• Documentation of community feedback.

Milestone 6: Full Platform Launch and Reporting (Months 12-13)

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Final version of the platform with all key features fully operational.
• Comprehensive project close-out report.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• All functionalities (DIDs, veracity bonds, AI moderation, token economy) are live.
• Completion of a security audit and final optimizations.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Public platform launch announcement.
• Submission of a close-out report with video walkthrough and user analytics.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

For this project, the Cardano Curation team will leverage its expertise to build the decentralized media and news platform effectively:

• Caleb Montiel will lead the overall strategy, community engagement, and ensure alignment with Cardano’s decentralized ethos.

• Steven will manage AI integration for real-time translation and content moderation.

• Diego will oversee the platform’s design, ensuring a visually engaging and user-friendly interface.

• Jonathan will handle web development, focusing on frontend/backend integration, and the implementation of decentralized identity and smart contracts.

Additionally, we plan to recruit a Plutus smart contract developer and a Midnight developer to strengthen the blockchain infrastructure and privacy aspects of the platform.

The team has direct communication with necessary resources in the Cardano ecosystem and will ensure transparency and timely project delivery.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget & Cost Breakdown

1. Development & Integration (54,000 ADA)

• Web and Mobile App Development (Frontend & Backend): 25,000 ADA
• Building the platform’s responsive design and back-end infrastructure for users on both mobile and desktop.
• Smart Contract Integration (Plutus Developer): 12,000 ADA
• (3,000 ADA/month for 4 months). This will cover the token economy, veracity bonds, and reward mechanisms.
• Midnight Developer (Privacy Features): 16,000 ADA
• (4,000 ADA/month for 4 months). This developer will integrate privacy solutions, ensuring data protection for users.
• Token Integration (DID & ZK Proofs): 10,000 ADA
• Setup for decentralized identity and veracity bond integration.

2. Testing, Onboarding & Storage (30,000 ADA)

• Testing and Onboarding (Beta Testing): 15,000 ADA
• This includes user testing, bug fixes, and optimizing user experience before public launch.
• IAGON (Storage Solution for Platform): 10,000 ADA
• Decentralized storage costs to store media and content using the Cardano-based IAGON platform.
• Code Auditing & Security Testing: 5,000 ADA
• Third-party auditing to ensure the platform’s smart contracts and storage solutions are secure and free from vulnerabilities.

3. Marketing, Community Engagement & Publicity (35,000 ADA)

• Marketing & Social Media Campaigns: 15,000 ADA
• To promote the platform across various channels, including social media, blogs, and influencer partnerships within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Community Engagement & User Acquisition: 10,000 ADA
• Allocated for fostering community feedback, running surveys, and incentivizing early users to engage with the platform.
• Launch Campaign: 10,000 ADA
• To drive public adoption at launch through paid advertising, content creation, and outreach to key industry influencers.

4. Project Management, Reporting & Documentation (16,000 ADA)

• Project Management (6,000 ADA)
• Dedicated to managing timelines, deliverables, and coordinating the different project aspects, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
• Documentation and Reporting Back to the Community (5,000 ADA)
• Ongoing documentation of project progress, deliverables, and milestones. This includes updates for the Cardano community and Project Catalyst.
• Legal & Compliance (5,000 ADA)
• Third-party legal services to ensure compliance with data protection laws and token economy regulations.

5. Contingency Fund (15,000 ADA)

• Unforeseen Expenses: 15,000 ADA
• Reserved for any unexpected costs, such as additional developer hours, emergency fixes, or hardware upgrades.

Total: 150,000 ADA

This breakdown ensures that the project is adequately resourced at every stage, with clear budget allocation for development, integration, marketing, and compliance, while also including essential elements such as reporting, documentation, and community engagement.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This project represents strong value for the Cardano ecosystem by building a decentralized, transparent platform to address misinformation across various sectors. Utilizing tokenization models and decentralized identifiers (DIDs), the platform incentivizes truthful content creation and fact-checking processes, creating a scalable community-driven solution. This system will extend beyond crypto-related news, tackling misinformation in media, politics, health, and more, promoting trust and enhancing the use of blockchain technology for social good.

Additionally, we will prioritize hiring talented professionals from Latin America, where wages are more cost-effective. This approach allows us to maximize the impact of allocated funds while maintaining high-quality output and furthering the global reach of Cardano.