Archive for July, 2010
What’s the plan for the TBD Community Network?
Posted by sbuttry in Partnerships on July 13, 2010
We believe we are trying something unique among news organizations with our TBD Community Network.
TBD will not be the first news organization with a blogger network. But we aren’t aware of another organization taking the same approach to community blogs. We believe the TBD Community Network will be a key reason people will turn to us for news of their neighborhoods as well as news of the Washington metro area.
In a series of recent announcements, we have introduced more than 90 local blogs and sites that have agreed to join the network. We expect to top 100 shortly. When you come to TBD’s home page or one of our topical pages, you will see content from across the region from a variety of sources. We will present the biggest stories that we think will be important and interesting to people throughout the metro area. And we will sort news by location, offering you news that’s important to you because it’s close to where you live, work, play or shop. When you click the links, some headlines will take you into the TBD site to content produced by our staff. Other links will take you away to content from our network members or other news sources in the community.
As noted in an earlier post, the network members are an active group, producing newsy and varied content that we believe will give us a lively, informative report about news and community life (and the network has more than doubled in size since that post).
We won’t restrict our network members by traditional journalism standards. Some bloggers practice pretty traditional journalism, maintaining independence from the sources and institutions they write about. Others write about their personal passions and their own communities, openly acknowledging them. We welcome that variety in the network. We probably at some point will provide a place on our site where the bloggers will tell more about themselves. But for now, we think discerning readers and viewers can judge the perspective and expertise that bloggers bring to their work.
We believe we have worked out a mutually beneficial relationship with members of our network, where they will provide valuable content for our audience and we will provide traffic to their blogs and sites, and we all have an opportunity to make some money based on that traffic.
Here’s how the network will work:
- We will provide headlines and links, sending TBD visitors to the network members’ sites if they want to read the full story. The network members will not write or work for TBD. They are fully independent sites and blogs.
- When a network member posts an article, photo, graphic, video or any type of content worthy of top-story play on our home page, we will feature that contribution as a top story, just as we would if a TBD staff member had produced it.
- When network members produce content affecting a particular location in the Washington area, we will feature that in a home-page feed of local news for TBD visitors who have identified that area as one of the locations they care about. (You will be able to enter multiple locations, so you might be able to enter your home and work locations, plus a spouse’s work location, for instance.)
- When network members produce content on topics we will be highlighting, such as dining or sports, we will feature their contributions on those pages.
- We will promote content of network members in social media, such as our main Twitter account, geographic or topical Twitter feeds and our Facebook page.
- For interested network members, TBD sales staff will sell advertising, sharing revenue with them. We are pleased that we have received such a strong response from network members while we have still been working out the advertising details. We expect those to go out to network members and prospective members this week.
- We also are encouraging network members to work with GrowthSpur, another digital startup, which is helping develop and serve local advertising networks. GrowthSpur will provide training and tools for our network members to make more money selling ads on their blogs and on each others’ blogs.
- We will feature all the network members in a directory, where you can search for them by name or category or browse them all.
- We will involve interested network members in other community engagement efforts as well as social events and workshops.
We continue to recruit area blogs and sites to our network. We are interested in blogs and sites that cover the local community. If you blog about your neighborhood in Washington or in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs or if you have a favorite local blog, we would love to hear from you. If you cover specific local topics such as sports, education or business, we would love to hear from you. For instance, local blogger David Rothman correctly noted in three recent posts that the bloggers we have signed up so far don’t provide a lot of education coverage. If you know of some good local blogs and sites that keep an eye on local schools and/or universities (or other areas our network doesn’t cover yet), we would love to hear about them and include them in the network.
We’re not interested in national or international affairs. And, for now at least, we’re not signing up blogs that are mostly personal in nature. But if you’re partly local, let’s talk. Our initial response to D.C. Foreign Policy Beat was that we don’t cover foreign policy, so the blog wouldn’t fit. Blogger Ladan Nekoomaram said she was planning to do more blogging about issues and events in Washington’s local international communities. That sounded like local news to us. So we’ll link to those local stories but pass on the strictly international content. Other blogs and sites, we know, will also overlap with our mission. And some heavily local sites will on occasion veer into national or personal matters. For instance, a Nationals blogger might report on a development with the Cubs or any of the bloggers might write about big developments in their lives. Because TBD staff will be watching these blogs and making editorial decisions, we will highlight the content that is most relevant to our local audience.
We welcome your feedback as our network takes shape. We were always planning a blog post like this, but were spurred to write sooner by questions, such as this one from Twitter:
Soon you’ll see our network’s contributions to TBD. We hope you’ll let us know what you think and let us know if you or a favorite blog of yours can add a perspective we’re lacking. To inquire about joining the network, just tell us about your blog in the comments here or email me at sbuttry (at) tbd.com.
Have Camera, Will Report
Posted by Lisa Rowan in Partnerships on July 9, 2010
As you get to know our roster of bloggers, you’ll notice that quite a few of them are using video on their sites. Far from the home movies that make us cringe in retrospect, we’re seeing some well-edited pieces that range from informative to downright fun.
This week, DC StyleSpot editor Steve Fox (easily the Community Network’s best-dressed) checked out the Washington Kastles season debut. He got to ask Venus Williams a few questions about her fashion designs and her new book, and Fox has video up on the StyleSpot site. Sports and fashion in one place? Yes, that’s part of the fun of TBD: bringing everything together.
Georgetown Dish covers party for TBD Community Network
Posted by sbuttry in Partnerships on July 9, 2010
The Georgetown Dish dishes on last night’s TBD party at Ireland’s Four Fields: “festive, relaxed and fun.” And something about a full frontal attack on someone. But still fun.
A taste of what TBD’s food and dining partners are blogging about
Posted by Nathasha Lim in Uncategorized on July 8, 2010
In case you haven’t been keeping up, TBD has partnered with nearly 100 local bloggers, and that number is continuing to rise faster than DC’s heat index. We’re looking forward to working with such awesome people, and really excited to be sharing hyperlocal news on a wide range of topics with all of you out there.
As we’re busy preparing for launch, we invite you to check out some of the fantastic blogs in our network, and maybe follow some of them on Twitter.
Also, here’s a little taste of what some of our food and dining bloggers have recently written about…
Blogger and photographer Stacey Viera takes us out to a Nationals ballgame, and gives us a behind-the-scenes tour of the food operations with Nationals Park executive chef, Terry Louzon. Read more…
Did you know that “panas” means “friend” or “buddy” in several Latin American countries? It’s also the name of a new gourmet empanada joint on P Street in Dupont. Our new friends, Angela Serranzana and Mark Walker of i Flip for Food, share their experience. Read more…
Not in the mood for empanadas? What about some Korean BBQ, served with some fun upbeat Korean pop music? Mary Cunningham, the blogger behind Arugula Files, dined at Honey Pig in Annandale the other night, and brings us a tasty review. Read more…
But if you’re looking for a new place to lunch, perhaps you should consider Buddha Bar, a new hot spot in town. Amanda McClements of Metrocurean reports a tasty lunch deal: Bento Boxes for… Read more…
What does light taste like?? Florida Girl in DC, Tammy Gordon excitedly announced that Chef Jose Andres will be joining Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist, Vint Cerf, on July 14 for a discussion on food, science, innovation, and transforming the way we eat. Find out the details here…
We’re over the mid-week hump! As we’re nearing into the weekend, Becca Loveridge and Cori Sue Morris, the Bitches Who Brunch, offer some fun end of week activities… including a new brunch spot and an absinthe tasting… Read more…
AND if you don’t have any plans for Friday evening, Mary Kong of Girl Meets Food has the info on the ultimate indulgence—an evening of food, drink, music, and art. Details here…
Sure, Ally Schweitzer Will List Your Arts Event. But Will She Fix Your Bike?
Posted by abeaujon in Uncategorized on July 8, 2010
I think I got this job because Andrew Beaujon wants me to fix his bike.
I hadn’t even been in the TBD newsroom for five minutes before Andrew, TBD’s arts editor, was asking me about bicycles. Sure, I’d been in the Washington Post Style section for three years and had plenty of arts experience well-suited to a candidate for the listings editor position, but that almost seemed beside the point.
“So, you volunteer at Phoenix Bikes?” Andrew asked, right off the bat.
I was in, baby!
TBD Community Network passes 90 members
Posted by Jeff Sonderman in Partnerships on July 7, 2010
We have nine new local sites to announce today joining the TBD Community Network — bringing the total to 91 so far.
If you want to hook your site up with TBD, let us know now and maybe you’ll be Member #100.
Cooking with Coupons
They Say: Healthy, budget-friendly meals built around what’s on sale in local stores, coupons, seasonal ingredients and stretching expensive items.
We Say: Cooking great meals doesn’t have to break your bank. Lettie Goodridge offers helpful tips on how to use coupons and shop for the freshest ingredients while on a budget. Fun cooking videos included!
D.C. Foreign Policy Beat
They Say: This blog chronicles major foreign policy news and features in DC, with a focus on the government, NGOs and think tanks that specialize in international affairs. Not only can you find helpful international resources, but you can read the latest headlines, view live blogging of local events, read about the latest human rights issues and stay in the loop in the D.C foreign policy scene. I mostly focus on the countries that are of major U.S. interest today like Iran, Russia and Afghanistan.
We Say: For the thriving international and internationally focused communities in Washington, Foreign Policy Beat is a great source for the news and events you need to know about.
DC Urban Moms and Dads
They Say: DC Urban Moms and Dads, the premier parenting network in the DC metro region, provides an active mailing list and website discussion forums.
We Say: DCUM provides a great setting for sharing, discussing and learning almost anything about parenting in the DC area.
DC Works
They Say: Veteran D.C. journalist and recruiter Jodi Schneider offers real-world tips, advice, support and job leads for journalists and other professionals looking to change jobs or to transition into new fields, with a metro D.C. focus.
We Say: DC Works is a great resource for practical advice on finding a job or switching to the career you’ve always wanted.
Deacon Does DC
They Say: Musings on fashion, food, travel and fun in the District and beyond by Deacon, a curious puppy, and his owner, writer McLean Robbins.
We Say: Deacon is your stylish dog in the District. Check out his adventures involving food, fashion and fun with his owner, McLean, as they take on the city.
Metro-Venture
They Say: Why is Metro the public transit system everybody loves to hate? Let’s visit every train station and ride every bus line to find out.
We Say: We talk about the Metro like it’s one big thing, but Emily Hall shows that every station and every bus line is different. Join her in reviewing and discussing the good, bad and ugly of each piece of the Metro system.
The Hill is Home
They Say: News and information for the Capitol Hill communities.
We Say: An essential, and fun, source for anyone living in the Capitol Hill area. Nichole Remmert and friends catalog life in the shadow of the Capitol building.
The McLean Ear
They Say: The McLean Ear is your old-fashioned newspaper delivered online. We are your Number One news and information source for McLean, Va.
We Say: Editor Bobbi Bowman works very hard to create an online gathering place for McLean residents to learn and discuss what’s happening in the community.
The Totten Life
They Say: The Totten Life is a blog dedicated to keeping you updated, whether you want it or not, on the new developments and events taking place in the Ft.Totten, CUA, Brookland, and North Michigan Park (ANC 5A) section of DC.
We Say: The Totten Life has a keen eye for news, events and community development. If you live or work in this part of DC, be sure to read it often.
Sarah Godfrey Is TBD’s Music Reporter. Stop Telling Her About Your…Uh…Medical Issues.
Posted by abeaujon in People, Uncategorized on July 6, 2010
Back in 2001, I was hired as a general assignment reporter for Washington City Paper. I got the job after a months-long internship with the paper and nearly a year of freelancing for the weekly and hanging out at its offices, waiting for one of the reporters to leave and free up a staff position.
Once I was in, I wrote about nightclubs (Love, back when it was still called Dream), paper bus-transfers (back before the SmarTrip really took off), and a strange new DVD vending machine called a redbox that had popped up in Adams Morgan. I was also recruited by the paper’s arts editors to write event picks, album reviews, and arts features. There were many signs that this is where my strength lay. Around 2004 or so I was pestering a D.C. cop for information for a story I was working on. He only wanted to talk about a 50 Cent review I’d written. When that happened a second time—different cop, different review—I decided I should probably focus my writing energy on arts and entertainment.
Save for a brief stint as a transportation reporter, where I turned my attentions to anti-idling technology and National Transportation Safety Board regulations, I’ve worked as freelance music writer and editor for the last several years. As a regular contributor to the Washington Post and Washington City Paper (and a much-less-frequent contributor to Rollingstone.com and Spin), I’ve covered a lot of hip-hop, R&B, go-go, reggae, and reggaeton, but also the last Q and Not U show, the spectacle that is a Dolly Parton concert, and the vocal stylings of one Ryan Cabrera (post-Ashlee Simpson, pre-Audrina Patridge).
TBD and The Georgetown Dish announce partnership
Posted by Jeff Sonderman in Partnerships on July 6, 2010
We’re happy to announce that TBD will be working with The Georgetown Dish to highlight breaking news, neighborhood issues and community events in Georgetown.
TBD will be linking to content from the Dish as a member of the TBD Community Network of local news sites. So if you visit TBD after launch and enter a location somewhere near Georgetown, you’re likely to find a lot of Dish content.
The Georgetown Dish first went live in December 2009 at a launch party at Tackle Box, the popular Georgetown eatery, and already draws nearly 20,000 unique visitors per month. Spearheaded by a team of newshounds and technical wizards who cut their teeth at AOL, the site combines community news, political coverage, and social highlights in a social media platform where commenting and Tweeting are as important as original reporting.
“The Dish is like a virtual neighborhood café, where you can get the latest news, talk with a neighbor, and find out what’s happening,” said Publisher & CEO Beth Solomon. “In the most influential neighborhood in the country, what happens here matters all over the world.”
Georgetown is the home of Congressional leaders like Sen. John Kerry and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as U.S. officials including Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and influential journalists and authors such as Bob Woodward, Kitty Kelly, Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn. It is also a cultural epicenter, where the latest trends in food, fashion and art get their start.
The Dish has broken several political stories that have been picked up in the blogosphere, including an exclusive report on a City Council fundraiser, a Social Safeway Sighting of a Congressman that went viral nationally, and a controversial blogpost from a Washington Post reporter that “disappeared” from the newspaper’s website.
The editorial team is led by Managing Editor Bonnie Cain, Reporter Molly Redden and Associate Publisher Judith Beermann. Robb Hoffheins, chief operating officer, leads technology development and operations with John Divney and Doug Hummer. Contributors include Dr. Tina Alster, Mary Bird, Quinn Bradlee, Frida Burling, Janet Donovan, Page Evans, Wendy Gordon, Megan Harrington, Tricia Huntley, Jeff Malet, Topher Mathews of Georgetown Metropolitan (also a TBD Community Network member), Emily Miller, Neshan Naltchayan, and Darrell Parsons.
So look for the Georgetown Dish on TBD after launch this summer, and in the meantime follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Brad Rourke on TBD’s deal for bloggers: “no cap to the upside”
Posted by sbuttry in Partnerships on July 2, 2010
We like Brad Rourke’s view of the TBD Community Network: “There is no cap to the upside.”
Rourke, a partner in Rockville Central, one of our network’s most prolific blogs, joined a discussion that started yesterday on David Rothman’s blog. Rothman offered some thoughtful suggestions for TBD and some criticism of what he perceives to be our plans.
We welcome Rothman’s (and your) thoughts about TBD. Our Daniel Victor responded in the comments, and we won’t elaborate here beyond this: Keep in mind, what you’re looking at here is not the TBD local news site we are planning. We’ll be launching later this summer and that launch is our primary focus now. This is a place-holder blog on which we’re introducing members of our staff and network and discussing some of our plans.
But we do want to share some of Rourke’s comment on Rothman’s blog, because he understands how our network will operate (we encourage you to read the full comment and full discussion at the link above):
I have been a part of starting other blog networks before. I also helped design one. They never work out as well for the blogger as they promise. That’s because the power dynamics are all out of whack between the parties. The host site thinks “we are providing this awesome platform.” The bloggers think “we are providing this awesome content.”
Because the host site rarely goes out of its way to promote its bloggers (by putting them on the front page, e.g.), the bloggers are more right than the host site. Yet the bloggers are asked to give away their content (and typically have to post or cross-post it into the platform).
TBD.com specifically is trying to disavow that disconnect by promoting individual articles throughout their site, based on geocoding, AND are explicitly saying that bloggers’ content remains on their blogs. Someone plunks in 20850 as their ZIP Code and they’ll see a bunch of Rockville Central articles — and the links will come back to us. I anticipate an upswing in traffic. …
I prefer the shared-advertising model of TBD.com to some kind of pay-per-article compensation plan. This will allow us to sell ads to local businesses and so further embed Rockville Central into the community.With the advertising model, we have our built-in incentive to crush it in terms of content, and there is no cap to the upside. And, we don’t get into this mindset of “well, they’re just paying me $20 for this article so I will mail it in.”) And, and and … it’s sustainable for TBD.com.
I am thrilled to be a part of the TBD.com community network and I fervently hope (and expect) it to succeed. It’s got smart people at the helm, a lot of runway, and is nimble.
Thanks for understanding, Brad, and for stating so clearly what we are trying to do. Thanks also for the quality, passion and insight that Rockville Central will bring to the TBD Community Network.
And, if you’re one of those people who think blog comments are all anonymous, vulgar rants, check out that civil, thoughtful discussion in the comments on Rothman’s blog. You can expect more of that on TBD, too.
TBD partners with 82 blogs! Check out our last bunch joining us for launch
Posted by Nathasha Lim in Partnerships on July 1, 2010
The deadline for bloggers to be included in the TBD Community Network in time for launch was yesterday. But don’t worry, it’s not too late! If you have a blog that you’d like to include in our network, please let us know. The more voices, the merrier! For now though, check out our newest additions below. You can also follow them on Twitter!
Foodie Tots
They Say: FoodieTots shares local and sustainable food with a family-friendly focus, featuring DC-area farms, farmers markets & restaurants.
We Say: The quest to get your family to eat healthier just got a little bit easier. Colleen Levine shares her fresh recipes and adventures at the farmers market in her blog, Foodies Tots.
Counter Intelligence
They Say: On the line, behind the counter, at the bar, and in the kitchen at home.
We Say: News and observations about food, drinks and other culinary delights. That’s what you’ll find on Melissa McCart’s insightful blog, Counter Intelligence. Check her out for the latest food finds in the city.
The Wash Cycle
They Say: The WashCycle is a blog dedicated to informing cyclists in the Washington, DC area about issues of importance to their riding, and inspiring them to make their voices heard to make cycling easier, safer and more fun. It covers the facility design and implementation, legal aspects, safety and politics of Washington area cycling. But it also reports on racing, leisure riding and the entertaining elements of bicycling.
We Say: Anyone who’s ever hopped on a two-wheeler in DC will find their interests covered here, as it somehow manages to speak to both casual bikers and hardcore enthusiasts.
District Curmudgeon
They Say: A pair of well-practiced complainers offer constructive criticism regarding all things DC. Based out of Ward 5’s Trinidad neighborhood.
We Say: Geoffrey Hatchard and Jaime Fearer are a blogging duo that cares about the neighborhood. But they also have a penchant for maps that will keep you checking back for the latest cartographical view of the city.
The Dadventure
They Say: A journey into parenting while keeping an eye on that daily adventure.
We Say: Jonny Burns shares the joys and humor of fatherhood, and points out lots of great events for parents to take their children to.