Comments on: Top 5 News Destinations Not In Danger of Going Bankrupt in 2009 http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/ newspapers and news media innovation Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:21:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Gary Warner http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-2515 Gary Warner Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:46:09 +0000 http://www.metaprinter.com/?p=1851#comment-2515 The Las Vegas Sun is owned by the same company that operates the very profitable Vegas.com commercial website and booking engine. That may (or may not) factor into its claim to be cash flow positive. But its parent company is hardly a pure player media corporation. The Las Vegas Sun is owned by the same company that operates the very profitable Vegas.com commercial website and booking engine. That may (or may not) factor into its claim to be cash flow positive. But its parent company is hardly a pure player media corporation.

]]> By: Jana Adkins http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-2404 Jana Adkins Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:10:25 +0000 http://www.metaprinter.com/?p=1851#comment-2404 Robert, This is a very interesting posting. Thank you. I agree with you Callaway (love your name!) regarding the survival of news destinations will be those who find unique ways to generate significant profit, though I don't know how much difference contests will make. That's an interesting point though. Contests may attract viewers, but the key is to keep them on your site for longer periods of time then they spend on others. To do this, and to your point, I think the key is to find what will engage the reader. To do this requires dispensing with old ways of viewing how to put news up on the web, and "publish" what is of value to the readers. Something many traditional newspapers are missing the boat on today. On a side note . . . Like NPR, an interesting news venture launched in San Diego, California a few years ago. The Voice of San Diego (<a href="http://www.voiceofsandiego.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.voiceofsandiego.org</a>), a non-profit online news site, launched to cover local news that three former newspaper journalists and entrepreneurs felt was missing from mainstream news. The news site has unearthed political scandals the local veteran newspaper missed such as exposing the police chief’s boast about public safety when statistics showed an increase in crime; and an investigation that helped force out two leaders of the city redevelopment agencies. The news site is small but growing. Because it doesn’t have to print newspapers, the majority of its annual budget is dedicated to investigative journalist salaries. And while it is relatively small, this may be the platform for the future of news in major metropolitan markets, statewide, nationally and worldwide. Robert, This is a very interesting posting. Thank you.

I agree with you Callaway (love your name!) regarding the survival of news destinations will be those who find unique ways to generate significant profit, though I don’t know how much difference contests will make. That’s an interesting point though. Contests may attract viewers, but the key is to keep them on your site for longer periods of time then they spend on others.

To do this, and to your point, I think the key is to find what will engage the reader. To do this requires dispensing with old ways of viewing how to put news up on the web, and “publish” what is of value to the readers. Something many traditional newspapers are missing the boat on today.

On a side note . . .

Like NPR, an interesting news venture launched in San Diego, California a few years ago. The Voice of San Diego (http://www.voiceofsandiego.org), a non-profit online news site, launched to cover local news that three former newspaper journalists and entrepreneurs felt was missing from mainstream news.

The news site has unearthed political scandals the local veteran newspaper missed such as exposing the police chief’s boast about public safety when statistics showed an increase in crime; and an investigation that helped force out two leaders of the city redevelopment agencies.

The news site is small but growing. Because it doesn’t have to print newspapers, the majority of its annual budget is dedicated to investigative journalist salaries. And while it is relatively small, this may be the platform for the future of news in major metropolitan markets, statewide, nationally and worldwide.

]]> By: Tracy @ WSB http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 Tracy @ WSB Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:21:40 +0000 http://www.metaprinter.com/?p=1851#comment-1970 Hey, thanks for mentioning us! I think #9 is REALLY REALLY REALLY important. We do require a forum log-in, though, but I don't know any forum that doesn't run that way. Not for comments, however, and people are welcome to e-mail contributions, questions, ideas, day/night ... Twitter, FB, text, call us by phone, whatever. As soon as new ways of interacting arise, we'll be there too. Hey, thanks for mentioning us! I think #9 is REALLY REALLY REALLY important. We do require a forum log-in, though, but I don’t know any forum that doesn’t run that way. Not for comments, however, and people are welcome to e-mail contributions, questions, ideas, day/night … Twitter, FB, text, call us by phone, whatever. As soon as new ways of interacting arise, we’ll be there too.

]]> By: Callaway Zuccarello http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1961 Callaway Zuccarello Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:29:53 +0000 http://www.metaprinter.com/?p=1851#comment-1961 The top news destinations that will survive, we think, are those that can find unique ways to generate significant profit with their online properties. Many of these successful destinations are using online contests to engage both advertisers and readers. For example, the Orange County Register offers online contests that get readers to react - cutest pet contests, fantasy football, ugliest couch contest - and have sponsors support them, i.e. very profitable opportunities to reach people locally. As a result, UPICKEM, an online contesting product from Second Street Media, is seeing a doubling of their business. Second Street is offering a free webinar on Feb. 24 for local media looking to learn more about how to leverage profitable online contests. They can sign up at www.secondstreetmedia.com. The top news destinations that will survive, we think, are those that can find unique ways to generate significant profit with their online properties. Many of these successful destinations are using online contests to engage both advertisers and readers.

For example, the Orange County Register offers online contests that get readers to react – cutest pet contests, fantasy football, ugliest couch contest – and have sponsors support them, i.e. very profitable opportunities to reach people locally.

As a result, UPICKEM, an online contesting product from Second Street Media, is seeing a doubling of their business. Second Street is offering a free webinar on Feb. 24 for local media looking to learn more
about how to leverage profitable online contests. They can sign up at http://www.secondstreetmedia.com.

]]> By: Susan Kishner http://blog.metaprinter.com/2009/02/top-5-news-destinations-not-in-danger-of-going-bankrupt-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1923 Susan Kishner Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:47:27 +0000 http://www.metaprinter.com/?p=1851#comment-1923 You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted. You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted.

]]>