This experiment in building a narrowly focused online daily newspaper in Seattle is over. Why? The short answer is money. But there's more to it than that, and I'd like to take a few minutes to explain some of what I learned about publishing an online daily, so that others may succeed where I have not.
To fund a newsroom requires a pretty sizable chunk of money. My goal with the Courant was to have two to three reporters working full-time and making a living wage, as well as, a copy editor and a secretary. To do that, I estimated that I would need about $500,000 a year (gross sales would need to be more than that since sales people and support staff need to be paid too, but they essentially pay for themselves). I would work for free for the first year or so.
To fund a newsroom requires a pretty sizable chunk of money. My goal with the Courant was to have two to three reporters working full-time and making a living wage, as well as, a copy editor and a secretary. To do that, I estimated that I would need about $500,000 a year (gross sales would need to be more than that since sales people and support staff need to be paid too, but they essentially pay for themselves). I would work for free for the first year or so.
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The printed newspaper stuck around a lot longer than other forms of communication, but like all technological breakthroughs, eventually they become obsolete.
Sometimes you just gotta stand up and holler; the bad economy, the Iraq war, trillions of dollars going into a financial sink-hole, joblessness, homeless people begging by the side of the road with handmade signs saying, "Please Help," and television advertising yelling "Save Big! Buy This! Buy That!"
More often than not, the poor and homeless are veterans of our recent wars, made to fend for themselves on our streets after dodging bombs and bullets for months on end. And folks with money are staying home with it.
More often than not, the poor and homeless are veterans of our recent wars, made to fend for themselves on our streets after dodging bombs and bullets for months on end. And folks with money are staying home with it.
There's a lot of hemming and hawing over The Death of the Newspaper these days. Not that there shouldn't be. A lot of good people are losing jobs and getting pay cuts. There's a real fear that the fourth branch of government will vanish, leaving us in the hands of Katie Couric, the last paid reporter asking the tough questions. I have to admit, it's a bit much for me, seeing the media report on itself all the time. But that's the conundrum. Who else can do it? Artisan cheese-makers?
Without making the slightest attempt to beat them, I've decided to join them. It's my turn to submit a eulogy.
Without making the slightest attempt to beat them, I've decided to join them. It's my turn to submit a eulogy.