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”

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

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”

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”

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.