A Day in the Life of a Hyperlocal News Site

by Matt on Oct 11, 2009 in Industry

This is about a month old, but it’s a great read nonetheless:

WordPress, Twitter, the Elks Club: 10 new routines at a news startup

Nieman Journalism Lab goes behind the scenes with the folks running Ann Arbor Chronicle, a hyperlocal news site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that’s filling the void left by the Ann Arbor News newspaper. Founders Dave Askins and Mary Morgan talk about a “typical day” — to the degree that such a thing exists.

Creating 10 heavily reported and edited posts a week, maintaining the site’s daily news digests and gossip feature, editing three regular columnists and selling the ads to support it all requires “literally every waking hour” the couple has, Chronicle editor Dave Askins said.

Askins, 44, “sometimes works through the night,” said publisher Mary Morgan, 48, who says she’s dropped 50 pounds since launching the business last year. “I can’t swing that.”

If you’re involved in — or thinking about getting involved in — a hyperlocal news site, consider this a must read.

[Ed. note: Most of my travel is now complete and I hope to return to more regular posts here. One more trip coming up later this month, however.]

No related posts.

October 11, 2009 | Filed Under Industry 

Comments

Leave a Reply (please use your real name; company names & other keyword-based names will be deleted)