Hyperlocal Digital News
Business and Production Models in the US
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Defining Hyperlocal
Wikipedia:
• Entities and events that are located within a well defined, community scale area. • Intended primarily for consumption by residents of that area. • Created by a resident of the location.
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Citizen Journalism
1. Faster. Breaks stories across the globe faster than mainstream outlets. 2. Cheaper. Lowers costs of news production-- no overhead. 3. More Global. Over 5,000 contributors on the ground, around the world. 4. More valuable UGC. Verification and adds value to user-generated content. 5. Collaborative real-time newsroom.
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The Hyperlocal Spectrum:
All News is Local
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Single Locality Journalism
• Niche • Investigative • Authentic • Top-Down Journalism Process • Submission: Single Point • Limited by Geography • Difficult to Scale • Self-Funded or FoundationFunded • Content > Technology
Platform Sophistication
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Networked Journalism
• Flexible • Scalable • Networked • Investigative • General formats, topics • Crowd-sourced • Submission: Content Management System • Hierarchical • Content > Technology • Funding: Venture Capital, Foundation, Media Parent
Network Scope
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Information Utilities
• Database Derived • Massively Scalable • Advertising Supported • Technology > Content
Scope
• Heavily ‘Search’ Oriented • Organizes Existing Content • Increasingly Real-Time • Social Network Emphasis
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The Hyperlocal Landscape
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Hyperlocal Systems
Funding
Media Parent: NY Times Salaried Editor, Unpaid Interns
VC -> Media Parent: AOL
Venture Capital Citizen Journalism Editor
Sandler, MacArthur, Knight Fnd Director of Networked Reporting
CPB, Knight Foundation, >2% Govt
Editorial Review
Salaried Editor
TBD
Open Submissions Contributor Profiles (Ego Factor) Scope Business Model
Email
New Jersey, Connecticut Self-Serve “Listings”
Email, Internal
Email, Internal
TBD
New York Self-Serve Ads
Anonymous
Anonymous
TBD 12 Initial Sites. 979 Total. Donations
National Direct and Network Ads
National None
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Funding Models:
Pros and Cons
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Self-Funded, Independent
Pro Authentic, Homegrown Investigative Content-Focused Locally Sustainable Community-Oriented
Con Difficult to Scale Lack of Technology Resources and Innovation Small in Scope Lack of Audience Lack of Professionalism, Ethics
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Venture Capital Funded
Pro Scalable Technologically Innovative Disruptive: Creates New Value Strong Talent Pool Speed of Development Competition
Con Ethics and Quality May Suffer Eyeballs > Integrity 4th Estate Function Marginalized Rewards Sensational Content Journalistic Oversight? Competition
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Media Parent
Pro Technology and Editorial Resources Newsroom Experience Instant Audience Instant Contributor Pool Scalable on Existing Network Journalistic Integrity
Con Lack of Technology Resources and Innovation Counter to Legacy Media Culture Low + Bureaucratic Lack of Competition Lack of Technology and Editorial Innovation
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Non-Profit, Foundation, Gov’t
Pro Fourth Estate Function: Serves Public Good Investigative & Journalistic High Quality of Coverage Serves Local Communities High Potential for PublicPrivate Partnerships Con Lack of Market Conditions Difficult to Scale without preexisting Network Small in Scope Limited Distribution & Audience Not Self-Sustaining Competition for Limited Resources
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www.groundreport.com rachel@groundreport.com
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