Subscription-based news site?
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:33 pm
Here's a little background about me:
I used to run an worldwide newslinks website formatted somewhat like drudgereport.com called I Don't F@#$ Around News (IDFAN). That, and my writing skills, led to me getting an internship/freelance photojournalist position at The Star-News in Chula Vista a few years back. I discontinued IDFAN due to lack of returning or unique visitors and hence no ability to earn ad revenue.
So...
Today, my parents told me I should start my own local news website because what I tell them about what I heard on the public safety scanner is much better than what the TV news programs provide. A lot of UT online articles are nowhere near what I consider decent news either, with some commentors putting in their own real (or imagined, hopefully not) accounts of the radio traffic.
For example, KUSI News at 10 had a segment about the action at Chula Vista International Raceway today. No mention at all of the crash victim with Copter 1's response. Additionally, the murder on 65th apparently was still too fresh for reportage 1 hour later, even though some stations will start their broadcast sometimes with "Breaking News" in events such as this.
So while I agree in principle that more details are better, I'm not quite sure I want a repeat performance of IDFAN.
It would have to be much different. It couldn't be a one-man show. I would abandon advertising in favor of a subscription model, where you see the lede free but have to pay to see the full article. And I would need to turn webmastering over to the experts, as long as the editorial interface is left open and uncomplicated.
With a subscription model, it would better support the addition of staff reporters and photojournalists. And photogs could also sell higher-resolution prints/videos straight from their relevant articles. This the kind of advertising that makes sense and shouldn't turn off habitual ad blocker/ignorers like me.
I'm not trying to steal you away from your existing stringer work, but wouldn't this be a great supplemental income if you could get way better copy under your photos/video? Copy that people can get as much a kick out of as you or I?
I'm not sure if there's a website out there already exactly like this. The news paging services are great for what they are - short message services, but this would be for readers who want more detail, unsanitized (uncensored, even) news, that they can sit down, read, and be amazed by. Especially if they happened to pass by or otherwise be affected by the events.
So here's where you tell me I'm a kook and not to quit my day job. Or discuss, because I can't possibly succeed without your help. It doesn't even necessarily have to be a website. Just as long as it has a good revenue stream.
I used to run an worldwide newslinks website formatted somewhat like drudgereport.com called I Don't F@#$ Around News (IDFAN). That, and my writing skills, led to me getting an internship/freelance photojournalist position at The Star-News in Chula Vista a few years back. I discontinued IDFAN due to lack of returning or unique visitors and hence no ability to earn ad revenue.
So...
Today, my parents told me I should start my own local news website because what I tell them about what I heard on the public safety scanner is much better than what the TV news programs provide. A lot of UT online articles are nowhere near what I consider decent news either, with some commentors putting in their own real (or imagined, hopefully not) accounts of the radio traffic.
For example, KUSI News at 10 had a segment about the action at Chula Vista International Raceway today. No mention at all of the crash victim with Copter 1's response. Additionally, the murder on 65th apparently was still too fresh for reportage 1 hour later, even though some stations will start their broadcast sometimes with "Breaking News" in events such as this.
So while I agree in principle that more details are better, I'm not quite sure I want a repeat performance of IDFAN.
It would have to be much different. It couldn't be a one-man show. I would abandon advertising in favor of a subscription model, where you see the lede free but have to pay to see the full article. And I would need to turn webmastering over to the experts, as long as the editorial interface is left open and uncomplicated.
With a subscription model, it would better support the addition of staff reporters and photojournalists. And photogs could also sell higher-resolution prints/videos straight from their relevant articles. This the kind of advertising that makes sense and shouldn't turn off habitual ad blocker/ignorers like me.
I'm not trying to steal you away from your existing stringer work, but wouldn't this be a great supplemental income if you could get way better copy under your photos/video? Copy that people can get as much a kick out of as you or I?
I'm not sure if there's a website out there already exactly like this. The news paging services are great for what they are - short message services, but this would be for readers who want more detail, unsanitized (uncensored, even) news, that they can sit down, read, and be amazed by. Especially if they happened to pass by or otherwise be affected by the events.
So here's where you tell me I'm a kook and not to quit my day job. Or discuss, because I can't possibly succeed without your help. It doesn't even necessarily have to be a website. Just as long as it has a good revenue stream.