January 23, 2013
What Happened to the Neighborhood Blogs?
After a Surge in Popularity, Some Are Vanishing
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"Roosiehood Blog on hiatus," reads the headline of the last post on the Roosevelt neighborhood blog, posted in September. "Sadly, we no longer have the time or resources to maintain [the site]." On My Green Lake, a good-bye letter from publisher Amy Duncan, posted last May, reads, "The time has come for me to move on to other projects." Then there are some without good-bye letters: The most recent post on First Hill Seattle is from October. My Wallingford: mid-December. U District Daily: last June.
Just a few years ago, it seemed like new neighborhood blogs were popping up every day. Now, not only are there fewer blogs, but the ones that survive seem to have less content. What happened?
Stranger Personals
In 2008 and 2009, the Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer crowed about "hyperlocal" blogs "taking over" and "blossoming"; the Seattle Times started a partnership with neighborhood blogs as "an interactive journalism project," sharing resources with the neighborhood sites and then linking to their coverage. Particularly after the P-I stopped its presses and went online-only—and newspapers around the country began to shrink as the publishing industry shifted—neighborhood blogs were seen as a savior for the city's journalism. "Newspapers, TV stations, etc. have dropped the ball in a major way on neighborhood reporting," says Wendi Dunlap, who runs Beacon Hill Blog. She says business openings, small crimes, and even big stories that originate in neighborhoods are "the things that bind a publication, or a broadcaster, into the local community."
Yet despite a "constant increase" in readership, Dunlap says she can't make a living running her blog. "The costs of hosting the blog are low, but I don't get paid for working on it because the ad revenue is also low... I think a lot of people assume that because there are ads on the blog, I must be drawing an income from it. But it's really not the case."
Tom Fucoloro, who runs Central District News, says, "A couple years ago, I was 100 percent sure [neighborhood blogging] was the way of the future. Now, I'm down to 80 percent."
Looking at the numbers can be grim: In mid-2010, the Magnolia Voice posted around 50 or 60 stories a month. Now it's somewhere in the 20s. Fremont Universe was posting with a similar frequency in 2010. In many months of 2012, they posted less than a dozen times.
A few neighborhood blogs are thriving, making their editors money and keeping up their posting schedule. The husband-and-wife team who run West Seattle Blog make six figures a year from their site. They're also well-known for their work ethic and crazy hours; WSB's Tracy Record told The Stranger last year, "We don't take the weekends off, we don't take the nights off." Justin Carder of Capitol Hill Seattle says he now makes "a wage commensurate with what I'd net in my first years working for a paper." He also says he "never stop[s]" working.
The folks who run these sites seem to agree on two things: One, the heyday of neighborhood blogs has passed, especially for the larger networks running more than one site. The network of local blogs run by company Next Door Media—including My Wallingford and U District Daily—has slowed way down, posting less and less frequently, and KOMO's neighborhood blog experiment has given up on hyperlocal, instead serving up the same citywide stories on all their neighborhood sites. Yet paradoxically, the bloggers who are still going say their readership is steadily increasing, even as the independent, often one-person operations struggle to keep it all going with slim ad revenue.
"Is there a sustainable business model that goes along with it?" asks Ravenna Blog's Rebecca Nelson. "That's the big question. And nobody, anywhere, knows the answer yet."
Fucoloro thinks the answer may lie in sites that are less a one-person labor of love and more a collaborative effort, with many neighborhood residents writing for the site and an editor moderating. That's actually how Central District News is supposed to work, but he doesn't get a lot of posts from the community. "I don't want to write the whole thing," he says. He has been asking himself, "What can I do to empower people to write for it?" For starters, he's decided to offer a series of free journalism classes, which he plans on teaching in a local cafe—he's calling it "Central District Journalism School," and there is already a waiting list.
But for now, Fucoloro, who makes about $12,000 a year running two blogs—he also founded and runs Seattle Bike Blog—is still basically on his own, working about 60 or 70 hours a week, with no benefits and no safety net. "If I wake up one day and need to get my appendix out, that's game over." 
49
And then there is New City Collegian which has been kicking down walls for the past three years with only $300 in advertising investment (yes that is $100 a year in advertising).
48
Hmm.. would it be worth going with a (small) subscription model? I'd pay a small fee for the hyperlocal news updates, that's for sure.
47
Hi. I'm the Beacon Hill Blog editor. Thanks for the article, Anna.
I do want to clarify something. The article says:
'"Newspapers, TV stations, etc. have dropped the ball in a major way on neighborhood reporting," says Wendi Dunlap, who runs Beacon Hill Blog. She says business openings, small crimes, and even big stories that originate in neighborhoods are "the things that bind a publication, or a broadcaster, into the local community."'
I did not actually mention business openings, small crimes, and big stories. In fact, I think "big stories that originate in neighborhoods" is the opposite of what I intended. This is what I actually said in the email interview:
"I think that newspapers, tv stations, etc. have dropped the ball in a major way on neighborhood reporting.
"If you go read a copy of the Seattle Times from the 1930s or even much later, you see all kinds of local things that major publications and broadcasters just don't do anymore. They used to print things like 'These kids won the Beacon Hill Little League Challenge contests at Beacon Hill Playground on Wednesday,' listing the kids and their parents and their addresses. They listed and congratulated high school and college graduates. Until well into my lifetime the Times used to list wedding announcements for free. All the local births would run in the newspaper as well. These are the things that bind a publication, or a broadcaster, into the local community. Syndicated content doesn't make you a vital part of the community. Local content does. Local blogs have stepped into that gap, or at least, are trying to fill it.
"The newspapers would probably say they don't have room for that information any more. But one of the reasons they don't is that they lost the connection with their audience that might have allowed them to survive a bit better than they have."
My point was that the little things that big papers and stations don't do anymore are what bind them to a community. They will always cover the big stories, but what makes a publication indispensable are the little things that relate directly to your life.
More...
I do want to clarify something. The article says:
'"Newspapers, TV stations, etc. have dropped the ball in a major way on neighborhood reporting," says Wendi Dunlap, who runs Beacon Hill Blog. She says business openings, small crimes, and even big stories that originate in neighborhoods are "the things that bind a publication, or a broadcaster, into the local community."'
I did not actually mention business openings, small crimes, and big stories. In fact, I think "big stories that originate in neighborhoods" is the opposite of what I intended. This is what I actually said in the email interview:
"I think that newspapers, tv stations, etc. have dropped the ball in a major way on neighborhood reporting.
"If you go read a copy of the Seattle Times from the 1930s or even much later, you see all kinds of local things that major publications and broadcasters just don't do anymore. They used to print things like 'These kids won the Beacon Hill Little League Challenge contests at Beacon Hill Playground on Wednesday,' listing the kids and their parents and their addresses. They listed and congratulated high school and college graduates. Until well into my lifetime the Times used to list wedding announcements for free. All the local births would run in the newspaper as well. These are the things that bind a publication, or a broadcaster, into the local community. Syndicated content doesn't make you a vital part of the community. Local content does. Local blogs have stepped into that gap, or at least, are trying to fill it.
"The newspapers would probably say they don't have room for that information any more. But one of the reasons they don't is that they lost the connection with their audience that might have allowed them to survive a bit better than they have."
My point was that the little things that big papers and stations don't do anymore are what bind them to a community. They will always cover the big stories, but what makes a publication indispensable are the little things that relate directly to your life.
45
@35 Not that you get the numbers that Penny Arcade has, simply by virtue of being a local blog vs national comic strip, but their kick starter last year aimed to take all advertising off their page. They also only raised $500k which I'd think was pittance for such a national blog.
Really, you don't need a completely new feature, sometimes.
Really, you don't need a completely new feature, sometimes.
44
The demise of the MyGreenlake blog was just heartbreaking. If I had had any idea that she was about to stop because of lack of funding, I would have subscribed to keep that going. I would have even helped her to create a more sustainable business model. She treated coverage of the neighborhood as though she was on a journalists' beat, every day, 24/7. It was amazing -- I'd hear sirens outside, and go to the MyGreenlake twitter feed, and I'd know why the emergency responders were called and what was going on in the moment. Strange sounds? Go to MyGreenlake and find out what they were. New business going in? Go to MyGreenlake. And now... we have nothing. I'd say step one to creating more revenue would be to start at least accepting donations on your blog, even having pledge drives. Brown Paper Tickets allows anyone to accept fee-free donations right from your own website, so I'd start there before Kickstarter, mainly because Kickstarter has rules against being used for existing business and also they take a much higher percentage of the monies donated as their fee! As for "the future," -- I'd say that there is a future -- but, I'm thinking it may be tied to Low Power FM. The FCC is about to open an application window for licensing a bunch of Seattle LPFM stations -- the communities who build them should also run the community blogs. Built in "group" instead of just one person, for the benefit of all. That's my .02. :)
43
Seattle Bike Blog is run by a "progressive" propagandist who can't handle any opinions but his own and those that agree with his. Same goes for his buddies at the Seattle Transit Blog. They're just as bad as the wingnuts at Free Republic.
As ridiculous as the Stranger is, at least this place still believes in free speech.
As ridiculous as the Stranger is, at least this place still believes in free speech.
42
I love Wallyhood -- yes, sometimes the posts are just about missing pets, but more often it alerts me to things going on in the neighborhood that I'd otherwise never know about. I hope the editor has figured out a way to make the blog sustainable -- it's a great resource for neighborhood residents.
40
MyBallard is run by a very smart couple who have a deep and clear understanding of journalism and new media. But they have no sales team and frankly even the Ballard News Tribune online is a better alternative. It's been showing some actual journalistic flair in the last six months or so.
38
@18
Haha, you nailed it, Fnarf. I feel bad for the people who seem to think Wallingford is riddled with dangerous panhandlers. Only a certain kind of person is so terribly upset at being offered to buy a $1 newspaper while walking into QFC. Frankly, it was embarrassing for me to read.
Haha, you nailed it, Fnarf. I feel bad for the people who seem to think Wallingford is riddled with dangerous panhandlers. Only a certain kind of person is so terribly upset at being offered to buy a $1 newspaper while walking into QFC. Frankly, it was embarrassing for me to read.
37
I just wanted to point out that the Fremont Neighborhood Council's blog is regularly updated with lots of Fremont goodness. See for yourself!
http://fremontneighborhoodcouncil.org/bl…
http://fremontneighborhoodcouncil.org/bl…
35
@22 - A Kickstarter isn't a bad idea. We've kicked the idea around. The down side is that A: You can't just use it to fund existing operations according to their rules. So like you note, we would have to have some new element/feature to introduce. B: Running the Kickstarter and that new element would take time, which we're sort of running low on. However, that's not to say it's not worth trying.
34
@15 - Thanks for that feedback. You're right, we could make it more clear that we want community posts. I'll work on that. You're not stupid! Thanks for nothing that.
33
The problem with the Queen Anne View is that it really have no distinct tone. Of course this will happen with guest posters unless the mods simply intro community contributions and set the tone that way. Still though, it's reads like VCR instructions.
Though, when I couldn't sleep, it certainly did the trick.
Though, when I couldn't sleep, it certainly did the trick.
32
This article sounds like something I would have read on the Seattle Times: not well thought out and leading to conclusions that aren't supported well. I guess that's what our professional journalists (yes, even the Stranger) have come to recently. That's why I turn to the local blogs more often, as they know what's actually going down more often than not.
Kudos to the Ravenna Blog, Roosiehood, My Greenlake, and all of the other local bloggers who have contributing to a more well informed Seattle. Keep it up! ...or don't if your real job/life gets in the way. Either way, know that you're very appreciated.
Kudos to the Ravenna Blog, Roosiehood, My Greenlake, and all of the other local bloggers who have contributing to a more well informed Seattle. Keep it up! ...or don't if your real job/life gets in the way. Either way, know that you're very appreciated.
30
@28 I'm always going to write about stuff that happens in and around Ravenna, even if/when the big guys do, too. But when I do, I try to take a more local tack on things. Like the Noll shooting, for instance.
As for revenue, besides local ads like the Ravenna Blog has already, I'm thinking of doing a public radio-style pledge drive around the site's fifth birthday. Complete with tote bags.
But as for limiting factors, my problem is not money so much as TIME: The "interns" are both under six, and they are my primary job. Many of the other sites' authors have primary jobs, and the sites they write for are the side gig, as well. And you can't get more (decent) writers without money, and you can't get money without content. So it goes.
And I've written about a missing ferret once. And dogs, and cats. People love their critters.
As for revenue, besides local ads like the Ravenna Blog has already, I'm thinking of doing a public radio-style pledge drive around the site's fifth birthday. Complete with tote bags.
But as for limiting factors, my problem is not money so much as TIME: The "interns" are both under six, and they are my primary job. Many of the other sites' authors have primary jobs, and the sites they write for are the side gig, as well. And you can't get more (decent) writers without money, and you can't get money without content. So it goes.
And I've written about a missing ferret once. And dogs, and cats. People love their critters.
29
24- You could probably do at least a quarterly Kickstarter if you can come up with new features. I know zines that run every KS's every quarter and also books now and then. Probably not a sustaining model for growth, but who knows. It would at least help buy nice cocktails until the Internet figures out how it's gonna pay you for reals.
28
@18, the Ravenna blog is dangersously close to blogging about missing cats....very close. And the larger news stories they DO cover have already been covered in the Seattle Times or the PI website.
Sorry lady in Ravenna...we live in a boring-ass 'hood.
Sorry lady in Ravenna...we live in a boring-ass 'hood.
27
"Now, not only are there fewer blogs, but the ones that survive seem to have less content. What happened?"
As the editor of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Blog, I can tell you exactly what happened. It's just too bad that the author didn't bother to contact me about it.
As the editor of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Blog, I can tell you exactly what happened. It's just too bad that the author didn't bother to contact me about it.
26
Is the sudden reduction of hyper-local blogs all about monetization, though? Did the author of this story actually contact the administrator of Roosiehood, My Greenlake, etc. to find out why they went on hiatus? In the case of Roosiehood, at least, I know for a fact it's not because she wanted to get paid. Maybe a quick email to these blog authors so prominently featured in this piece would have made it a piece resting on reality instead of broad assumptions.
25
Wow, I wonder why Roosiehood wasn't available for you to talk to, since you so focused on their last post...
....
....
You did try to reach out to them to find out why they went on hiatus, right, and this isn't just some kind of fluff piece that didn't even try to interview the people it's actually about?
....
....
You did try to reach out to them to find out why they went on hiatus, right, and this isn't just some kind of fluff piece that didn't even try to interview the people it's actually about?
24
@22 that only works the first 1,000 times! But, really, an ongoing kickstarter for every day existence won't cut it. Crosscut is not a model I think I can shrink down to Capitol Hill. You can probably do it 1x. Or 1x a year if you're good at it.
22
Thought of Kickstarter for neighborhood projects? $5K for a blog series on best bars, $10K for video interviews of local celebs, with some donated GC's and t-shirts as rewards or whatever. Something less lame than those, probably, but you get the idea. All those eyeballs (especially CHS) have a lot of disposable tech income and love their local blogs.
20
Turns out creating your own content is a lot of work! That Benjamin Franklin guy made it look so easy, and with technology it should be a snap for any wannabe busybody to become famous for knowing a town's gossip. Everyone's an indefatigable genius in their own mind.
The calcification of the newspaper industry in the second half of the 20th century led many to believe that it was a very stable business that just ignored technological changes. The true history of newspapers, circulars, magazines, etc. in America is one of a massive failure rate. As in restaurant failure rate.
The fact that more than one of these blogs is still churning out content is a positive development, not a negative. It bucks the trend.
The calcification of the newspaper industry in the second half of the 20th century led many to believe that it was a very stable business that just ignored technological changes. The true history of newspapers, circulars, magazines, etc. in America is one of a massive failure rate. As in restaurant failure rate.
The fact that more than one of these blogs is still churning out content is a positive development, not a negative. It bucks the trend.
19
Hadn't been aware of Rainier Valley Post. Quite impressed. Also have to give a shout-out to PhinneyWood, which really manages to crank out the content.
18
There just isn't enough interesting news in the average neighborhood.
@8, you'll exhaust the history posts after a very short while -- and history posts take a ton of research to put together. For what? So you can sell enough ads to earn $0.50 an hour? That's not sustainable.
There are only so many posts you can make about the missing cat down the block. The most exciting thing that happens in my neighborhood is the street light going on and off. And on. And off.
One of the problems with the neighborhood blogs that were part of a larger network is that the temptation is to fill the news hole with shared stories; but then you get readers like me who read multiple neighborhood blogs who get fed up with seeing the exact same story ten times. Everyblock is currently suffering from this problem bigtime.
Another common problem, perhaps the biggest one, is that with neighborhood blogs you're dealing with...neighbors. Neighbors by and large come in two categories: quiet, and annoying. The quiet ones never comment, and the annoying ones comment constantly. And these comments all follow a few fixed patterns: "crime everywhere, oh my god when are they going to do something about all this crime, oh my god I can't even go outside, when I was five years old there wasn't all this crime" (a popular theme in virtually crime-free North Seattle neighborhoods); "these goddamn meth addicts and welfare bums and homeless people everywhere, get rid of them, if we'd just stop providing social services they'd all go away", and "derp, derp, love everybody, if we all think positive thoughts and burn sage over our chakras maybe a Whole Foods will open up in the neighborhood" hippie-dippy stuff. Oh, and the not-up-to-the-challenge people who post stuff like "I perk my my crr their and it wasnt a Fed Myers bge good" that you can't even figure out. The sad fact is that most of your neighbors are not people you want to talk to; if they were, you'd already be talking to them.
More...
@8, you'll exhaust the history posts after a very short while -- and history posts take a ton of research to put together. For what? So you can sell enough ads to earn $0.50 an hour? That's not sustainable.
There are only so many posts you can make about the missing cat down the block. The most exciting thing that happens in my neighborhood is the street light going on and off. And on. And off.
One of the problems with the neighborhood blogs that were part of a larger network is that the temptation is to fill the news hole with shared stories; but then you get readers like me who read multiple neighborhood blogs who get fed up with seeing the exact same story ten times. Everyblock is currently suffering from this problem bigtime.
Another common problem, perhaps the biggest one, is that with neighborhood blogs you're dealing with...neighbors. Neighbors by and large come in two categories: quiet, and annoying. The quiet ones never comment, and the annoying ones comment constantly. And these comments all follow a few fixed patterns: "crime everywhere, oh my god when are they going to do something about all this crime, oh my god I can't even go outside, when I was five years old there wasn't all this crime" (a popular theme in virtually crime-free North Seattle neighborhoods); "these goddamn meth addicts and welfare bums and homeless people everywhere, get rid of them, if we'd just stop providing social services they'd all go away", and "derp, derp, love everybody, if we all think positive thoughts and burn sage over our chakras maybe a Whole Foods will open up in the neighborhood" hippie-dippy stuff. Oh, and the not-up-to-the-challenge people who post stuff like "I perk my my crr their and it wasnt a Fed Myers bge good" that you can't even figure out. The sad fact is that most of your neighbors are not people you want to talk to; if they were, you'd already be talking to them.
17
@#10... Note the number of ads on the Rainier Valley Post. At some point, unless there's a trust fund backing them up...people have to eat, pay rent, and pay other bills. News is a business. Some do it well. Others do not or given their circumstances...can't. It's a fine site...looks clean and has lots of content. There just aren't any ads.
16
Posting and reporting original content takes time and money. A real community blog as a collaboration of contributors might be possible, however the only type of content that will last for now will be ad supported.
The west seattle blog isn't a neighborhood blog, its more of a news magazine with a single neighborhood focus based on where its owners live. Its highly monetized by ads, which as a commercial venture is their prerogative.
The problem is they put on a face of a neighborhood resource and voice while editorializing content and comments. Their censorship of posts or views that go against their real customers or personal friends is troubling in this light.
The west seattle blog isn't a neighborhood blog, its more of a news magazine with a single neighborhood focus based on where its owners live. Its highly monetized by ads, which as a commercial venture is their prerogative.
The problem is they put on a face of a neighborhood resource and voice while editorializing content and comments. Their censorship of posts or views that go against their real customers or personal friends is troubling in this light.
15
If CD News wants more user content, they should say so. Seriously, I have been reading it from the beginning and had no idea where the content came from. There is a small "post" link, but I didn't think that was for the public...just internal for guest posters etc. I feel stupider now.
14
As someone who writes a blog (about K-12 public education), I can tell you. A blog is a beast that must be constantly fed. That is, if you want to keep your readers.
So not only do you have to constantly be searching for, researching and writing content,you have to figure out a way to try to make some money off that content.
I note that the Slog, unlike other newsy blogs, does NOT go away on weekends and, like our blog, sticks it out every single day.
It's not easy.
So not only do you have to constantly be searching for, researching and writing content,you have to figure out a way to try to make some money off that content.
I note that the Slog, unlike other newsy blogs, does NOT go away on weekends and, like our blog, sticks it out every single day.
It's not easy.
13
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/201…
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/201…
Local news operations can only work if the conditions are really right. There have to be enough local advertisers...really local owners (not franchises) in a geographically defined area with a strong sense of identity. Then the prices have to be negotiable, flexible and there must be a constant flow of stories PLUS and this is the hook...a meeting place, a conversation place online. In the 1999 book Cluetrain Manifesto, (republished and still as accurate in 2009) they point out that "the market is a conversation" which it clearly is. People love to anonymously vent and to waste time reading the venting of others. Ads on these sites don't really work...not really...it's a complete myth. Ever notice how few testimonials you see about how well the ads on local news sites work? But advertisers buy them because they are unsophisticated marketing people for the most part and buy based solely on price and raw numbers. There aren't really campaigns going on...just fixture ads that are there because the cost is low enough and they "have to do something." The problem is that these businesses...are in the long run not sustainable since people's work ethics vary. So..when the people get sick (and they will) and/or the time comes to change hands...the product will change dramatically. C'est la vie.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/201…
Local news operations can only work if the conditions are really right. There have to be enough local advertisers...really local owners (not franchises) in a geographically defined area with a strong sense of identity. Then the prices have to be negotiable, flexible and there must be a constant flow of stories PLUS and this is the hook...a meeting place, a conversation place online. In the 1999 book Cluetrain Manifesto, (republished and still as accurate in 2009) they point out that "the market is a conversation" which it clearly is. People love to anonymously vent and to waste time reading the venting of others. Ads on these sites don't really work...not really...it's a complete myth. Ever notice how few testimonials you see about how well the ads on local news sites work? But advertisers buy them because they are unsophisticated marketing people for the most part and buy based solely on price and raw numbers. There aren't really campaigns going on...just fixture ads that are there because the cost is low enough and they "have to do something." The problem is that these businesses...are in the long run not sustainable since people's work ethics vary. So..when the people get sick (and they will) and/or the time comes to change hands...the product will change dramatically. C'est la vie.
12
Hi, First Hill Seattle here! It got to be way too overwhelming to do on my own. If anyone's willing to help me resuscitate it, email firsthillfriends at gmail dot com.
11
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/201…
Local news operations can only work if the conditions are really right. There have to be enough local advertisers...really local owners (not franchises) in a geographically defined area with a strong sense of identity. Then the prices have to be negotiable, flexible and there must be a constant flow of stories PLUS and this is the hook...a meeting place, a conversation place online. In the 1999 book Cluetrain Manifesto, (republished and still as accurate in 2009) they point out that "the market is a conversation" which it clearly is. People love to anonymously vent and to waste time reading the venting of others. Ads on these sites don't really work...not really...it's a complete myth. Ever notice how few testimonials you see about how well the ads on local news sites work? But advertisers buy them because they are unsophisticated marketing people for the most part and buy based solely on price and raw numbers. There aren't really campaigns going on...just fixture ads that are there because the cost is low enough and they "have to do something." The problem is that these businesses...are in the long run not sustainable since people's work ethics vary. So..when the people get sick (and they will) and/or the time comes to change hands...the product will change dramatically. C'est la vie.
Local news operations can only work if the conditions are really right. There have to be enough local advertisers...really local owners (not franchises) in a geographically defined area with a strong sense of identity. Then the prices have to be negotiable, flexible and there must be a constant flow of stories PLUS and this is the hook...a meeting place, a conversation place online. In the 1999 book Cluetrain Manifesto, (republished and still as accurate in 2009) they point out that "the market is a conversation" which it clearly is. People love to anonymously vent and to waste time reading the venting of others. Ads on these sites don't really work...not really...it's a complete myth. Ever notice how few testimonials you see about how well the ads on local news sites work? But advertisers buy them because they are unsophisticated marketing people for the most part and buy based solely on price and raw numbers. There aren't really campaigns going on...just fixture ads that are there because the cost is low enough and they "have to do something." The problem is that these businesses...are in the long run not sustainable since people's work ethics vary. So..when the people get sick (and they will) and/or the time comes to change hands...the product will change dramatically. C'est la vie.
10
The Rainier Valley Post just expanded their staff and updated their web design. http://rainiervalleypost.com/
9
I tried reading the two Wallingford based blogs but they were so goddamn boring I gave up. A high point was the hand-wringing over the new Walgreens on Stone Way & 45th. Hilarious.
8
@6: There are thousands of people in Ravenna to blog about. There is also a ton of history to blog about.
6
I live in Ravenna and trust me...there is nothing to blog about in this part of town. And I mean NOTHING
5
WSB has actively courted businesses to pay their way, but I had no idea they were making 6 figs! They do a great job. West Seattle may be slightly unusual around here, in that it's like a peninsula, with the sometimes insular community that comes with the geography.
New networking options might have something to do with it too. 3-4 years ago I'd turn to the CD News for every little last thing, but now I'm more likely to get hyperlocal news from my neighbors in the Nextdoor.com "private social network," which really just came into its own in the past year. Is that popular in other neighborhoods too?
And then there's Twitter...
New networking options might have something to do with it too. 3-4 years ago I'd turn to the CD News for every little last thing, but now I'm more likely to get hyperlocal news from my neighbors in the Nextdoor.com "private social network," which really just came into its own in the past year. Is that popular in other neighborhoods too?
And then there's Twitter...
2
Do these blogs only have one administrator? If I started a neighborhood blog I'd try to find long-term residents to share it with, at the very least in case I wasn't capable of maintaining it anymore
1
Meanwhile, the Rainier Valley Post continues to expand! Check out our new and improved site with contributions from our new editorial team:
http://rainiervalleypost.com/
http://rainiervalleypost.com/
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