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photography by Jay b Sauceda (meeting); Sam butler (Sotomayor) with a link to The Tribune's YouTube channel and live stream. "That was the moment I thought, Okay, this has now morphed from a regional curiosity to a phenom- enon," remembers Smith on the one-year anniversary. By the end of the captivating 11-hour filibuster, The Texas Tribune website and live stream attracted more than 183,000 viewers at its peak. "You have it as an organization—spikes and pla- teaus, spikes and plateaus," says Smith, dressed in a pressed suit and sea-green tie. "That was a spike. It was a great day for us. We have the luxury as a non- partisan organization of not caring what that day was about or not caring about the outcome of that day. A lot of people out in the world hate hearing that. 'Aren't you outraged? Aren't you elated over the fight?' No, it's not about that. From our perspec- tive, it's a day when the mission of The Tribune to provide greater access to the inner workings of gov- ernment was never better realized." What sets The Tribune apart from other online media is its innovative nonprofit model. Instead of relying on ad revenue, funds to support the site's operations are generated through fundraising from donors and corporate sponsors as well as events, especially the annual Texas Tribune Festival, which this year will be held September 19–21. Featured speakers include Davis, Governor Rick Perry, and Senator Ted Cruz, among many other political luminaries. "There is a lot of misconception and misunder- standing behind the economic model for The Tribune," says Smith. "Except for public radio and television stations, most people haven't ever seen a nonprofit supporting a news or media organization." Despite the challenges in his role as chief fundraiser, The Tribune has raised $24 million in four and a half years. Expanding its reach further, The Tribune also partners with KUT, to produce original radio jour- nalism, and with The New York Times, with the staff generating state-related content for the paper's Texas editions twice a week, including Sundays. Smith also continues to host Overheard with Evan Smith, his interview show that airs on KLRU and other PBS stations across the country. Like many others in Austin, Smith is a transplant, having grown up in New York State. He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He moved here to join the staff of Texas Monthly, where he worked for nearly 18 years, eight of those as editor. Months before his departure to start up The Tribune, the magazine garnered the presti- gious National Magazine Award for General Excellence—the second one of his tenure. When he speaks of his Texas Monthly days, Smith points across the street to the magazine's current home. ("I could zipline across to Congress," he says with a laugh.) A self-described "early-to-the-office, early-back- to-the-house type," Smith often arrives at work an hour or two before the other staff members. "Everyone here arrives much later," Smith says with a smile. "That might be a factor of their youth. They have the stamina and patience to be here when the afternoon has turned to night. I do not." As often as possible, dinner with his wife, Julia, daughter Carson, and son Wyatt is a top priority. Also, when his schedule permits, Smith attends after-school events at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, where both of his teenagers are students. A year after the Davis filibuster, The Tribune is focused on her bid for governor against Greg Abbott and the other political races on the November ballot as well as the controversies over University of Texas's regent, Wallace Hall Jr.; UT President Bill Powers's recent resignation; and an investigative multipart series about workplace injuries in Texas. "You can't surf off your reputation for very long," Smith says. On a side table in Smith's office is a framed photo- graph of Texas Ranger Prince Fielder, swinging mightily at a fast-moving pitch. The photo was a gift from one of Smith's former writers at Texas Monthly, from left: Smith in a meeting at The Texas Tribune; interviewing Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor for his show, Overheard with Evan Smith, on KLRU. cONTiNuEd frOM pagE 71 Mike Hall, because the two often used the metaphor of baseball when discussing the ideals of excellent journalism. "You only get a [limited] number of times at the plate," explains Smith. "You ought to swing for the fences every time, knowing that half of the time you're going to strike out and you're going to swing so far and corkscrew yourself into the ground and literally fall over. But the other times, you're going to hit one a mile. "I believe—always swing as hard as you can at the ball, in everything you do," says Smith. "An asteroid could fall from the sky tonight and then what would you have? What are you waiting for?" Texas Tribune festival, September 19–21, university of Texas, badges: $240–$300; texastribune.org AW INSIGHT: First thing he does in the morning: "Look at Twitter." secret to staying on top oF his busy schedule: "fear of embarrassing The Tribune." most apolitical gathering spot oF politicians in austin: "Las Manitas, may she rest in peace." best spot For a taco: "curra's. it's my favorite place to eat Mexican food—breakfast, lunch, or dinner." Favorite public policy topic in texas: "demographic inevitability. it's also the topic that gets the least attention in the Texas Legislature." top interview subjects For Overheard with evan Smith: "aimee Mann, ira Kaplan, and georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo, and Jason Schwartzman." how long it has been since he's eaten texas barbecue: "i've been a vegetarian since January 1984. i used to edit the Texas Monthly barbecue issue. i can tell you that my heart wasn't in it." 72 AUSTINWAY.com PEOPLE View from the Top