June 22, 2006
Calling all journalist entrepreneurs
By Robert Niles
2 comments | 
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If you want to remain anonymous, that's fine. But we would like to get a "head count," if you will, of journalist entrepreneurs who have made the transition to becoming their own online news publisher. So please drop us a line if
- You are an area journalist who has started a news website (and it doesn't have to be "hard" news -- any contemporary, non-fiction topic counts.)
- You are the owner or co-owner of the site
- Your site is (or sites are) making at least $1,000 a month, and
- Your site's revenue is coming from advertising, subscriptions or affiliate sales, and not simply from grants or spending down investment money. (We're looking for commercially viable sites here.)
Over the next few months, we'd like to tell the stories of some of the journalists who have made this change. So we'd especially like to hear from those of you willing to do a Q&A with us, or to appear in-person at an OJR conference.
If the description above matches what you've done, please e-mail OJR's editor, Robert Niles, at rniles[at]usc[dot]edu. Include your name, your site's URL, a short description of the site and your impression of its commercial success. Let us know if you'd like to stay anonymous, or if you'd be willing to be profiled, too. We understand that some journalists are building sites on the side while remaining employed in a traditional newsroom and that, in some cases, newsroom managers might not, shall we say, be completely aware of the scope of those outside projects. That's fine. We won't blow your cover.
We also understand that some publishers are reticent to publicize their success, lest they attract a slew of new competitors, trying to snag their advertising revenue. We can keep numbers quiet, too. But we do think that it is important that the stories of online journalists entrepreneurs be told, either individually or in aggregate. So we do want to hear from you.
Drop us a line, and pass along the word to others.
Thanks,
Robert Niles
Editor, Online Journalism Review
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Comments:
From John Mahoney on July 3, 2006 at 5:48 AM
I've published the Log Cabin Chronicles at www.tomifobia.com since March 1996. I also publish thelocalnews.caLots of quality content, lots of viewers, but making a profit continues to elude the LCC.
Come by for a visit.
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From Cathy Nickum on June 22, 2006 at 12:44 PM
I'm the co-publisher of www.bainbridgebuzz.com, an online newsmagazine on Bainbridge Island, Washington. My partner, Althea Paulson, and I have been operating our website profitably for about 18 months. We've successfully broken many news stories in our area, which is covered mainly by a weekly newspaper. Our readership and advertising base seems to be growing every day, even without a large marketing budget. Come visit us!