Proof of Usefulness Report

Cardinal News

Analysis completed on 2/14/2026

+348
Proof of Usefulness Score
Certified Problem Solver

Cardinal News is a high-value, legitimate nonprofit newsroom addressing 'news deserts' in Southwest Virginia. While the actual project demonstrates significant real-world utility and steady regional growth (doubling staff/revenue since 2021, ~3.2M annual pageviews), the submission itself contains grossly exaggerated data (claiming 125 staff vs. ~15 actual; claiming $17M market cap vs. ~$1.3M annual revenue). The score reflects the high intrinsic value of the project, heavily penalized for inaccurate submission data.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+21.25
Audience Reach Impact+3.00
Technical Innovation+3.00
Evidence Of Traction+6.75
Market Timing Relevance+7.50
Functional Completeness+0.25
Subtotal+41.75
Usefulness Multiplierx0.83
Final Score+348

Project Details

Project URL
cardinalnews.org
Description
Cardinal News is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news site that serves Southwest and Southside Virginia. We have no paywall and depend entirely on donations from readers. As a nonprofit that works virtually, we pay no shareholders, no landlords — so every dollar you give goes directly to supporting more journalism for Southwest and Southside Virginia.

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Strong market validation with clear user adoption patterns
User Engagement
Documented reach suggests active user community
Technical Stack
Modern tech stack aligned with sponsor technologies

Recommendations to Increase Usefulness Score

Document User Growth

Provide specific metrics on user acquisition and retention rates

Showcase Revenue Model

Detail sustainable monetization strategy and current revenue streams

Expand Evidence Base

Include testimonials, case studies, and third-party validation

Technical Roadmap

Share development milestones and feature completion timeline