Posted by jessdrkn on September 16, 2009
Location: Hartford 
Focus: “A Connecticut news site that understands the usual media offerings just…aren’t…enough”; some statewide general news, but concentration on capital politics and Hartford city; content includes original reporting and links to 44 blogs/news outlets, including watchdog journalism, lifestyle and local news focusses; other coverage: opinion, transportation, legal, labor, health care; a partner with non-profit online news start-up New Haven Independent
Started: 2005
Employees/Writers: Founding Editor Dan Levine, who has a state politics reporting background. Editor Christing Stewart, a former reporter at the Journal Inquirer in Manchester; one college student intern; accepts contributions.
Funding: advertising, donations
The site: ctnewsjunkie.com
From About page
Introducing CTNewsJunkie.com, a Connecticut news site that understands the usual media offerings just aren’t enough. Updated daily, CTNewsJunkie.com features original reporting on the state’s political, legal, and business universe, including a healthy focus on our struggling health care system.
Not mere observation. No half-cocked rants. And no regurgitated drivel already recorded in a million other outlets.
We’re talking about professionally gathered news you can’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s the latest dirt on a grandstanding senator or a tasty morsel about which bar owner can’t pay his legal bills — give us a week. We’ll be part of your habit.
Sample stories: “Fight to abolish the death penalty continues”; “[Governor] Rell releases DECD documents 16 days late”; “Budget victory tour starts at library”; “Union sings for single-payer”
Posted in Connecticut | Tagged: advertising, Connecticut, contributors, donations, original content, politics | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on June 18, 2009
Location: Chicago 
Focus: City, neighborhood news; local events, lifestyle, sports, politics; “an antidote to all those sites infatuated with the coasts” ; lots of aggregated news content; big blogroll
Started: 2003
Employees/Writers: Founder and editor Andrew Huff; 9 other sections editors; about 30 writer-contributors
Funding: Advertising
Site: gapersblock.com
Gapers Block is a Chicago-centric web publication providing information on news and events around town. It is written by and for Chicagoans and those who love the city — its mission is to get you to slow down and check out all the cool things around you.
Sample stories/posts: “Reflections of a Pop duo: TTTTotally Dudes explain it all” (Q&A with two music DJs); links to “Mourners warned of thefts at cemetaries,” “Daley: We’ll sign Olympics financial guarantee” at legacy media site; active area arts and entertainment bulletin board
Posted in Illinois | Tagged: aggregated news, arts and entertainment, bulletin board, Chicago, contributors, current events, Illinois, local | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on June 9, 2009
Location: Los Angeles 
Focus: “Los Angeles media, politics and sense of place” blog; site is home to LA Biz Observed and Native Intelligence blog sections. Native Intel. is section for “LA Observed’s contributors at large”
Launched: May 2003
Employees/Writers: Launched by Kevin Roderick, who is the site’s editor and publisher. Mark Lacter is LA Biz Observed business section editor. More than 20 contributor/authors.
From Mr. Roderick’s bio: “Kevin was an editor and staff writer at the Los Angeles Times for two decades and led the Los Angeles bureau of the late Industry Standard magazine. He is the author of two books about the city…”; his commentary airs weekly on KCRW-FM.
Funding: advertising — “LA Observed only accepts ads that are in good taste and that fit the style of the site in the sole judgment of the publisher”
Site: laobserved.com
LA Observed is an award-winning website devoted to independent reporting, informed commentary and selective linkage on the Los Angeles region and the news media.
Sample posts: “Tales of the LA Weekly,” “Big layoffs at Latham & Watkins,” “Dodgers having cash problems agan?”; LA Biz Observed, mostly aggregated stories from California and national media outlets; From Native Intelligence: “Lakers advance to the NBA finals” and “Field of weeds”
Posted in California | Tagged: California, contributors, current events, Los Angeles, media, politics | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on June 5, 2009
Location: Woodstock, Conn. 
Focus: Local news and issues blog covering 8 towns in Northeastern Connecticut — “We’re as close as your mouse”; popular topics include school boards and local elections; heavy comment traffic on floating topics
Launched: October 2005
Employees/Writers: Reader comment driven – many regular, anonymous posters, some bylined submissions; anonymous/unnamed administrators post submissions; site includes a philosophy statement and posting guidelines
Funding: limited advertising
Site: woodstockctcafe.com
From WoodstockCT Cafe Philosophy 101 page:
[Commenter] John said at the Cafe in January 2007 ‘There are many who have contributed to the Cafe to share information with the rest of us, and to enlighten us. The collective intelligence of all of us is well documented in the archives, warts and all. I can say for myself that, as a contributor of some of the articles at the Cafe, I have learned a lot about the Town and how it operates. The ability to speak freely in this forum has liberated us from the political darkness of Woodstock. Our learning about the goings on in Woodstock has come from writing the articles, reading the articles of others, and reading the commentary of other contributors. Many times I have been dutifully corrected and I have always appreciated knowing when I have misstated the facts. This awakening would not have been possible without anonymity. This is because it is the argument stated explicitly in words, not the credibility of the author, that is being debated.’
Sample posts: “Vote ‘No’ at the June 9 referendum”; “We know where the DTC stands, does the RTC have the political courage to weigh in?”; “From the outside looking in on the ninth grade proposal”; “On the Woodstock Academy contract”
Posted in Connecticut | Tagged: 2005, anonymous, blog, Connecticut, contributors, discussion, local politics, Northeastern Connecticut | Leave a Comment »
Posted by jessdrkn on June 4, 2009
Location: San Francisco 
Focus: “Non-commercial news for the Bay Area”; claims “print, web, radio, TV” outlets
Launched: Founded 2007
Employees/Writers: 1 staff, a news editor; 50+ “local volunteers, supporters, and contributors” which include employed and former print reporters, designers, multi-media producers, photographers, a first amendment lawyer, radio journalist, book authors; building online community “to solicit ideas”; employs experienced journalists; headed by a 12-person steering committee
Funding: non-profit — donations so far from 50 individuals and the San Franscisco Foundation; and “fiscally sponsored” by the Independent Arts & Media of San Francisco, a 501(c)3
Site: public-press.org
From mission statement in strategic plan:
The
Public
Press
is
a
startup
nonprofit
news
organization
that
aims
to
strengthen
reporting
on general‐interest
and
under‐covered
topics
in
the
San
Francisco
Bay
Area
through
a
daily
web
site
and,
eventually,
a
print
newspaper.
…
In
addition
to
original
reporting,
The
Public
Press
will
create
content
and
distribution
partnerships
with
an
existing
web
of
local
independent
and
public
media.
By
sharing
technology
and
skills,
member networks
can
work
together
to
encourage
civic
engagement
and
enhance
communication
among neighborhoods,
ethnic
groups,
and
shared interest
communities
that
make
up
San
Francisco.
Sample stories: “July 1 budget to trim homeless and AIDS support”; “Ideologies continue to divide same-sex marriage issue”; “Cabbies steamed over proposed taxi overhaul”
Its strategic plan for 2009-2011.
Posted in California | Tagged: California, city news, contributors, investigative, non-profit, San Francisco | Leave a Comment »
