I think you and I were in similar boats, though yours had more financial buoyancy than mine. Like you, my goal was to create a reliable news source for a community that got little coverage in the mainstream media. The idea of making money at it came only later, but at that point, I was so entrenched in generating copy that marketing fell to the wayside.

My role with The Silver Spring Penguin was full time. I had no other job than to attend meetings and events, write up stories, interact with readers, etc. There was no time for a paying gig or freelance projects. Hence, my shit brokeness.

I’ll correct the post above to reflect your state of non-shit brokeness. Also, I welcome you to share your experiences as a hyperlocal journalist on this site, whether as a commentor or a contributing author.

Thanks again, and best wishes to you.

I just thought I’d let you know that I’m not shit broke! Doing fine, actually. I never really intended to make money at the blog. My main focus when I started was two-fold: 1, cover some stuff that the papers that cover Arlington were not covering, and 2, try my hand at new/different story telling methods. Making money was the thing I thought about only after awhile. I, like you, love community journalism (it’s what I teach at Montgomery College), and the software finally came along that allowed me to do it cheaply.

I had published a print version in 2003/04 before I’d even really heard of blogging (I knew what it was, but why I didn’t think to go online, I don’t know). That one, believe it or not, almost made money, but sheesh what a lot of work. I’d still be writing that one if I’d had more help or more time.

Time is the issue for me, as I think it is for many local bloggers. The costs for distribution are so low, we can start these ventures easily; it’s finding the time to go to events, report, write, edit photos, and post all of it that makes it hard for a person with full-time jobs and kids, and committments to do this.

Ad to that sales calls and developing an actual business plan, and suddenly you can’t make it work.

That’s where I am. Thanks for mentioning me on your site.

Meliora (toward better things),

Steve Thurston
buckinghamheraldtrib.com

“I find it difficult to stop being a journalist to be an entrepreneur. Everyone can say it’s necessary, but a journalist isn’t trained to STOP reporting and writing.”

I was in the same boat. It’s why my publication succeeded as a news source and failed miserably as a business. If there’s a happy medium between journalist and entrepreneur, I’ve yet to find it. Maybe it doesn’t exist. Maybe it does.

It’s also possible that a viable business model requires two people: one to be a journalist, the other to be the publisher (the entrepreneur). This blog will explore that option, too.

My time as Penguin editor was very fulfilling, but it didn’t put food on the table. It wasn’t set up for sustainability. But I’ll be ready for my next hyperlocal venture, whatever that will be.

Best of luck with your podcast! Please keep me posted on how that works out.

Editor’s note: Avarice is the root of all evil, but at least it pays the rent! — JD (Jan 21, 2010)