In our previous discussions, we introduced the core idea behind InHouse Journal (IHJ): creating a new ecosystem where communities can directly support and share in the success of specific journalistic and creative works. The engine for this vision is a novel concept we call the Story-Stock.
Many of you have asked: "That sounds interesting, but how would a Story-Stock actually work?" It's a great question. Moving beyond a simple donation or a pre-order T-shirt into something that represents a real stake in a project’s financial future requires a clear, transparent, and trustworthy mechanism.
While InHouse Journal is currently piloting its initial "Service Stage" in Austin (as of May 2025) with a donation-based crowdfunding model to validate our platform and partnerships, the long-term vision for Story-Stocks involves a more sophisticated financial instrument. Here’s a look at the mechanics we are designing for that future.
What Exactly Is a Story-Stock?
Think of a Story-Stock not as a share in the InHouse Journal company itself, but as a digital certificate representing a fractional share of a specific creative project's future net revenue stream. It's tied to a single, defined work:
- An investigative journalism series.
- A serialized graphic novel.
- A documentary film.
- A season of a narrative podcast.
- A data journalism project.
The goal is to allow those who fund the creation of these works to participate in their potential financial success.
The Lifecycle & Mechanics of a Story-Stock
The Project & Its “Underlying Asset”
It all starts with a compelling project idea. A creator, journalist, or a team (potentially through one of our media partners) proposes a specific work.
This project undergoes a vetting process by InHouse Journal and/or its partners to assess its quality, feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with IHJ's values. This vetting is crucial because the project's potential to generate revenue becomes the "underlying asset" for its Story-Stocks.
Defining the Story-Stock Offering
- Transparent Budget & Funding Goal: Together with the creator/project lead, a clear budget is established, outlining the resources needed (e.g., journalist fees, research costs, production expenses). This determines the project's total funding goal.
- Issuance of Story-Stocks: If the funding goal is reached via initial community support (our "primary offering" phase), a pre-defined number of Story-Stocks are issued for that specific project (e.g., 1,000 units). Each Story-Stock then represents a fraction of that project's designated future revenue share.
- Creator's Stake: Models may allow creators to retain a significant portion of the Story-Stocks for their own project, directly aligning their success with their backers.
Acquiring Story-Stocks (The Initial “Funding” Round)
Community members acquire Story-Stocks by contributing funds to the project during its initial campaign on IHJ.
We anticipate using an "All-or-Nothing" model for these campaigns: if the project doesn’t reach its funding goal by the deadline, contributions are returned and no Story-Stocks are issued. This ensures projects launch only with sufficient resources.
How the Funded Project Generates Revenue
Once funded and completed, the creative work can generate revenue through various channels, depending on its nature:
- Journalism: Advertising revenue, syndication fees, licensing, paid archives access, and potential award prizes.
- Fiction/Graphic Novels: Direct sales (ebook, print), merchandise, and adaptation licensing (film, TV, games).
- Documentaries/Podcasts: Streaming rights, broadcast licenses, sponsorships, advertising, and ticket sales for live events.
Sharing the Success: The Dividend Mechanic
- Revenue Tracking: InHouse Financial (IHF) transparently tracks all designated revenues for each Story-Stocked project.
- Dividend Pool: A pre-agreed portion of net revenue flows into a pool for Story-Stock holders.
- Distribution: In near real-time, IHF distributes dividends pro-rata to holders. Holding 10 out of 1,000 Story-Stocks yields 1% of that period’s dividend pool.
Future Considerations: Liquidity & Platform Fees
Liquidity (Opt-In/Opt-Out Models)
We’re exploring future liquidity mechanisms—platform-managed reserve funds for a floor price (Opt-In) or a compliant secondary market (Opt-Out). These are complex and regulatory-dependent, so they’re longer-term goals.
Platform Sustainability
InHouse Journal will sustain itself through transparent fees—a small percentage on successful primary offerings and modest transaction fees if/when a secondary market emerges.
What Makes Story-Stocks Different?
- Project-Specific Focus: Stakes are tied directly to a single work’s success, not a company or a creator’s entire output.
- Direct Revenue Sharing: Participants share in actual revenues, moving beyond perks or simple patronage.
- Aligned Incentives: Creators, backers, and IHJ all benefit from producing and promoting high-quality, impactful work.
The Role of InHouse Financial (IHF)
IHF ensures these mechanics run securely and transparently—processing contributions, issuing Story-Stocks, tracking revenues, and distributing dividends. It’s the operational backbone of our Trust Architecture.
The Path Forward
Building a regulated Story-Stock ecosystem is “Capitalism on Hard Mode.” Our Austin pilot tests the platform, partnerships, and lessons needed to evolve.
Story-Stocks represent our vision to shift creativity funding toward a sustainable, equitable, community-invested future. By transforming applause into assets, we turn passive audiences into active partners.
We believe this future is worth building. Join the conversation—what aspects intrigue or concern you the most?