3 ms·

Why doesn't your friend start a blog? If he's good, he can pick up readers in a few years and become self-employed. Or he can think of a different model... I t

by Maro 17y ago

Why doesn't your friend start a blog? If he's good, he can pick up readers in a few years and become self-employed. Or he can think of a different model... I think that there is a real opportunity for the people producing the actual contents as paper newspapers are going digital: journalists don't have to hop from one corporate job to the next, they can attempt to be independent. This is of course always true, but change favors the small players, so his chances are better than at any other time.

brandnewlow 17y ago
I have some friends in this person's position. Reasons they give for not wanting to set out on their own: 1. They want to write and report, not sell advertising and there's no ad network out there that can get them real money ($10-15 CPM) as opposed to "internet" money ($2-3 CPM). 2. They want to be seen and read, now. Giving up a byline in a print newspaper for a blog that will take years to ramp up is a bit daunting and intimidating. A great example of someone doing a fine job of this is http://capitolhillsfax.com http://capitolhillsfax.com He's the authority on Illinois state politics. A good number of his posts are members only. Membership costs 365/year or $1 per day.
- tptacek 17y ago
  My soon-to-be-brother-in-law is a journalist-type; he's working for the Reader as their web guy, but he's been placing freelance pieces for years. He's got a blog at the reader and has been doing a good job with it. Maybe an option here is to find a blogging spot under a local paper's masthead. You might be able to build up a readership in your spare time, and then take them with you (away from the paper) when you get your sea legs.
  - brandnewlow 17y ago
    Moser? If so, your soon-to-be-brother in law is one heckuva writer. Dropping you an e-mail now...
    - tptacek 17y ago
      I'll tell him you approve! =)
aristus 17y ago
Why doesn't every programmer start a company? It sounds easy enough, but not everyone has the chutzpah (or talent) to start a blog that will support 1+ fulltime salaries.
- Maro 17y ago
  You can work 20-25 hours a week at a regular job and spend the rest of your time doing your own stuff. It's a reasonably safe setup (if you don't have kids) where you don't give up much but gain a lot, esp. on a personal level. Yes, of course not everybody does that, but I think the argument that your startup (or whatever we call it) won't support you from day 1 is an empty one, if you can make some safe money on the side. I would think journalism is a trade where such a hybrid transitional phase is possible.
deleted 17y ago
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by Maro 17y ago

brandnewlow 17y ago

I have some friends in this person's position. Reasons they give for not wanting to set out on their own: 1. They want to write and report, not sell advertising and there's no ad network out there that can get them real money ($10-15 CPM) as opposed to "internet" money ($2-3 CPM). 2. They want to be seen and read, now. Giving up a byline in a print newspaper for a blog that will take years to ramp up is a bit daunting and intimidating. A great example of someone doing a fine job of this is http://capitolhillsfax.com http://capitolhillsfax.com He's the authority on Illinois state politics. A good number of his posts are members only. Membership costs 365/year or $1 per day.

tptacek 17y ago
My soon-to-be-brother-in-law is a journalist-type; he's working for the Reader as their web guy, but he's been placing freelance pieces for years. He's got a blog at the reader and has been doing a good job with it. Maybe an option here is to find a blogging spot under a local paper's masthead. You might be able to build up a readership in your spare time, and then take them with you (away from the paper) when you get your sea legs.
- brandnewlow 17y ago
  Moser? If so, your soon-to-be-brother in law is one heckuva writer. Dropping you an e-mail now...
  - tptacek 17y ago
    I'll tell him you approve! =)

aristus 17y ago

Why doesn't every programmer start a company? It sounds easy enough, but not everyone has the chutzpah (or talent) to start a blog that will support 1+ fulltime salaries.

Maro 17y ago
You can work 20-25 hours a week at a regular job and spend the rest of your time doing your own stuff. It's a reasonably safe setup (if you don't have kids) where you don't give up much but gain a lot, esp. on a personal level. Yes, of course not everybody does that, but I think the argument that your startup (or whatever we call it) won't support you from day 1 is an empty one, if you can make some safe money on the side. I would think journalism is a trade where such a hybrid transitional phase is possible.

deleted 17y ago

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