How to start and publish an independent Newspaper

Free Republic ^ | 09/21/2003 | Chad Fairbanks

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well perhaps, based on the input of so many knowledgable FReepers, we should now move on to the actual planning phase, and see where we end up with as far as a plan goes.

I can, based on the input of you and others, write up a bare-bones plan that we can all flesh out as we go.

And, if a plan comes together, we can then think about providing it as a template for FReepers in other areas to use as a starting point? What say ya?

[Hilltop]

Revenue is the mantra. Advertisers expect eyes on pages, and floor trafic which translates into "I saw you in the paper, or "I have a coupon.".

If you've seen the movie City Slickers, I know the "meaning of this."

Regards,

Hilltop

[Chad Fairbanks]

LOL... nice police call LOL... but anyway... People do this all the time, it seems, so whay can't we? :0)

[Libertina]

I say aye!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Your wish is my command... ;0)

[Libertina]

BTW Chad, I love your current tagline. :)

[StriperSniper]

People do this all the time, it seems, so whay can't we? :0)

No reason to "can't" the idea. ;-)

I have thought about approaching the guy to see if he might consider letting me write a local fishing scene column for him. If he took me up on the idea, it would be a valuable credit to have if I ever wanted to take writing any further. I doubt there would be any money to be made, in fact, I'd probably have to sell a couple ads to get it going. That would be easy enough though, since none of my friends local shops have been using that valuable resource yet.
;-)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Of course, it only applies to some people. I'm still working on the whole 'how to act in public' thingy...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, good luck with it!

[holyscroller]

The first decision to be made is, is this going to be a news-paper, an opinion-paper, or an "interpretation of the Constitutional side of things"-paper? If it's news, are we covering Washington State stuff (such as the unconstitutionality of what most of the politicians do), and if so, who is going to be the investigative reporting to ferret out the facts? If it's just opinion pieces, you've got to have dynamite headlines that jump off the pages and grab readers or they don't give a hoot what your opinion is. If it's issue based (like "should teachers strike?" we've got tons of grist for the mill.

When I did my state-wide Conservative paper back in the 60's, I used "citizen-experts" who were more knowledgeable about specific issues than the bureaucrats who were trying to ruin their lives. I was amazed at how knowledgeable many ordinary citizens are. This is particularly true "when their ox gets gored," and they either have to become experts in the law pertaining to their issue, or they get buldozed by the bureaucrats.

Also, is this going to be statewide, Western Washington or Puget Sound oriented?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... Maybe it's too soon to consider this as an option, but what about the possibility of regional editions? Washington State Focus, with inserts for smaller localities added by the locales themselves, featuring local issues?

For example, we print/publish the actual paper and distribute it to the various locations around the state. A few people in Steilacoom, for example, have a few pages printed up that acts as the community section focusing on issues in the Steilacoom area, and some in Mukilteo do the same for their community, and they are inserted into the ones they receive...

Another thing - Libertina mentioned some ideas about some 'teaching about the constitution' etc... Now, while I'm thinking about hard news and opinion/op-ed pieces etc... one thing we could also consider is an idea similar to the "Coffee Break" section in the PI - But, rather than simply teaching, it could be accomplished via trivia, This Day in History type things etc... just a thought on that.

[holyscroller]

Take a look at www.louguzzo.com I know Lou would let us use his stuff (or he'd write something specific if we asked him to. He's a friend of mine. He's the former publisher of the P.I. and actually VERY Conservative. He co-authored a couple great books with Dixy Lee Ray. He's a frequent reader of FreeRepublic.

[Doctor Stochastic]

None of the alternative papers in this area copy articles from other sources. They all seem to have independent writers. A few have syndicated things like crosswords.

Their big attraction are arts schedules and reviews. Movies, concerts, night clubs, etc., are all big features. They do things like Santa Fé's best restaurant, bar, chili dog, bookstore, laundry, gallery, etc.

[smith5460]

I have a few ideas for a regional/national newspaper.

If you want to cover several states or perhaps the entire country, you could have local bureaus throughout the region you wish to publish and sell the newspaper. For example, there could be a Seattle Bureau, a Walla Walla bureau, a Boise bureau, etc.

The paper could consist of four sections: National News, Local News/Lifestyle, Sports/Business, and Classifieds.

The National News would be the same for all the bureaus.

The local news/lifestyle section would be written and put together by each bureau. This way each edition of the paper will be different in each bureau as it will focus on its own local news.

The sports/business section would encompass both national and local sports and business news.

For the classifieds, each bureau could sell local advertising while the national HQs could sell ads for the entire nation.

Feel free to reply with any comments or questions.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... Maybe it's too soon to consider this as an option, but what about the possibility of regional editions? Washington State Focus, with inserts for smaller localities added by the locales themselves, featuring local issues?

For example, we print/publish the actual paper and distribute it to the various locations around the state. A few people in Steilacoom, for example, have a few pages printed up that acts as the community section focusing on issues in the Steilacoom area, and some in Mukilteo do the same for their community, and they are inserted into the ones they receive...

Another thing - Libertina mentioned some ideas about some 'teaching about the constitution' etc... Now, while I'm thinking about hard news and opinion/op-ed pieces etc... one thing we could also consider is an idea similar to the "Coffee Break" section in the PI - But, rather than simply teaching, it could be accomplished via trivia, This Day in History type things etc... just a thought on that.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... Maybe it's too soon to consider this as an option, but what about the possibility of regional editions? Washington State Focus, with inserts for smaller localities added by the locales themselves, featuring local issues?

For example, we print/publish the actual paper and distribute it to the various locations around the state. A few people in Steilacoom, for example, have a few pages printed up that acts as the community section focusing on issues in the Steilacoom area, and some in Mukilteo do the same for their community, and they are inserted into the ones they receive...

Another thing - Libertina mentioned some ideas about some 'teaching about the constitution' etc... Now, while I'm thinking about hard news and opinion/op-ed pieces etc... one thing we could also consider is an idea similar to the "Coffee Break" section in the PI - But, rather than simply teaching, it could be accomplished via trivia, This Day in History type things etc... just a thought on that.

[Consort]

How about a Blog in printer friendly format?

[hosepipe]

Now this is a very good idea,,,,
Going Hmmmmmm to myself.....keep me posted.. on your progress... have a large conservative audience here.. No conservative right wing extremeist mean spirited papers that I see here.... could be time for one... or two..

[Kay Soze]

"Have you ever noticed how often they are left-wing publications? "

Very true!

Great thread!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I'm more concerned with Washington State, but nothing says that others couldnt' step up to the plate in other areas and pick up the ball and run with it. Eventually, it could lead to a national project that shares resources...

It's an idea :)