A new crowd-funding initiative, called emphas.is, which will generate funding for photojournalists to complete specific documentary projects, has launched. Professional visual journalists propose specific projects and, if they are approved by emphas.is, descriptions of the proposed story are posted on the web site where interested readers can make donations to fund the work. Donors must pledge a minimum of $10 to support the project. Photographers who gain funding agree to "enter into a direct dialog" with their backers as the project unfolds. 

The site has launched with at least nine projects up for funding and has secured pledges of US$15,000 for them in the first week, according to a blog post at emphas.is.