For a product that hasn’t launched yet, TBD is getting a lot of attention from bloggers.
Ken Doctor contrasted TBD’s acceptance of varying standards in our Community Network with the “Church of High Integrity” approach of traditional media organizations:
TBD’s approach is web, 2010. It’s a Society of Friends approach, and one being put into place not by starry-eyed newbies, but veteran journalists reinventing their craft on the fly. There’s risk there, of course, for Steve Buttry and Jim Brady in the approach. Undoubtedly, controversies will pop up on their watch, and their new practices will be dissected.
Mathew Ingram of GigaOm mentioned TBD in a post noting various “hyperlocal” projects in the works, and noting that others have failed:
Despite the entrance of heavyweights such as Patch.com into the market, however, it’s still not clear whether hyper-local blogging and journalism in general can generate enough revenue to make them viable as businesses in their own right. Anyone with a stake in that market will undoubtedly be watching TBD and Journal Register’s attempts closely.
Judy Sims mentioned TBD in consecutive posts speculating on the causes of death “if newspapers cease to be” (and we are neither predicting nor cheering for such an event). The causes, Sims said, will be failure to recognize the necessity of community and failure to focus on return on investment.
By the way, this message is not just for mainstream media companies. Pure plays such as Washington’s TBD.com and Toronto’s OpenFile.ca need to focus just as much (probably even more) on ROI if they’re going to support themselves with online ads alone. TBD is off to a great start (along with the Journal Register Company) by partnering with GrowthSpur. (Full disclosure, I’m on GrowthSpur’s advisory board).
David Rothman is offering advice aplenty (seven blog posts so far) both for TBD and for the Washington Post to “outgun” us (we’re hoping any competition won’t involve actual shots being fired):
- TBD’s Washington area news startup: Niche blogs wooed — but no signs YET of a hyperlocal nirvana
- TBD, meet NYC’s Westside Independent: Role model for SOME neighborhood blog affiliates
- Hyperlocal journalism and TBD: More coming on what makes a great ‘hyper’ site
- Georgetown Dish joins TBD blog network: Deja vu angles — in Washington Post’s backyard
- How TBD could use hyperlocal journalism to kick the Washington Post’s butt
- How TBD Web startup in the D.C. area will work with affiliate bloggers
- How Washington Post and New York Times could outgun hyperlocal sites like TBD and Baristanet
Shashi Bellamkonda blogged about the TBD Community Network (of which he’s a member) and our many appearances at Digital Capital Week last month.
#1 by Walid Ghatore on July 26, 2010 - 12:30 pm
Either you are going to burn a hole in the solar system or your toaster will create a fire, with all of this cheeerfully shameless pre-promotion you have.
#2 by Brandon on July 29, 2010 - 12:49 pm
“…still not clear whether hyper-local blogging and journalism in general can generate enough revenue…”
There’s value in good, local content, the District speaking to the District. At any rate it’s not currently being done like TBD proposes. The local blogs will still be here regardless so isn’t it a false premise to frame hyper-local blogging as an experiment?