How to start and publish an independent Newspaper

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

[Xthe17th]

Subject: TITLE
The title should be something which is both meaningful to those of us in the know (i.e., already conservative), yet deceptively catchy to attract independent minded "middle of the roaders" who are basically not very well politically educated.

The title SHOULD NOT be something blatently right wing, lest the publications do get stolen and thrown away by rabid leftists as already mentioned. In fact, IMHO, the WHOLE PUBLICATION needs to be very SUBTLE without compromising principle.

Perhaps "The Boiled Frog" (How do you boil a live frog? Very slowly lest it detect the heat and jump from the pot - an analogy to what's happened in America via incremental legislation and judicial activism). "The Toasted Toad" would be similar. Or, how about "Eagles Up"? I'm sure we can come up with lots of other good ideas.

PS: Needs to be generic for distribution in any locale, i.e., "Capitol" won't work in the title.

[Chad Fairbanks]

We were already thinking "The Armadillo Times" (heh heh heh) but "The Boiled Frog has a certain charm ;0)

Thanks, actually, as I am still in the planning phase, and the name/title is just one more thing that needs thinking through. Thanks for your input!!!

[Doctor Stochastic]

Remember the combination to the coffee!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

they're left wing, they're full of ads, and they never get sued.

I've seen some outrageous reporting in alternate newspapers, but these left wing papers get a pass on whatever they say and no advertisers pull away from them.

I'm quite sure a Conservative alternate newspaper wouldn't get the same treatment as a left wing paper. Print one column that "offends" liberals and the liberal double standard would kick in: Advertisers would be pressured to pull out, lawsuits would have to be paid for, and the paper racks would be vandelized.

The definition of "objective journalism" is self-referential.

The objectivity of anyone who adheres to the "party line" that mainstream journalists are objective (including of course the mainstream journalists themselves) is never challenged by any (other) member of mainstream journalism. It would be against the rules of the Establishment which is mainstream journalism.

If a Bernard Goldberg does write a Bias, he does not cease being a journalist--he is an unperson who never was a journalist.

The least regulated form of publication is the Internet web site, and it is no accident that you are reading the above subversive description of reality on a web site and nowhere else. Even a newsletter would be subject to more hassles, as Noachian has noted. Broadcast TV is the most Establishment-regulated, followed by big newspapers (Washington Times the only maverick) and cable news (Fox News Channel the only maverick). Radio, where conservative-hosted shows are rife, is remarkably low-regulation, if you don't notice that even the most conservative hosts are interrupted by anticonservative news programs. Rush's EIB network is the greatest conservative address in publishing space currently extant.

My humble opinion is that FreeRepublic.com is superior to anything other than Rush, and Rush's superiority lies only in his great address which only requires a pocket radio to access. Great addresses are expensive, tho--and even your newsletter costs money. I vote for spending that spare change on advertising FreeRepublic.com to improve the value of its address.

Why Broadcast Journalism
is Unnecessary and Illegitimate

[FastCoyote]

"The legal thing is the part that would worry me most."

No problemo. My business experience tells me - when in doubt -punt!

You do what every on-the-edge-business does, you firewall your assets and set yourself up for quick restart under a different name. You put the whole business in the name of your insane penniless aunt in the asylum, so any lawsuit goes nowhere. All profits are sucked up by wages. Write under nom-de-plumes. You guys get the idea. Trust me, I've had to operate this way on many occasions for self preservation.

[First_Salute]

Many tx for bringing this to my attention!

[Fawnn]

maybe there are local well-known conservatives who would contribute a written piece on occasion.

I'm late arriving to this thread, so this may have perhaps already been mentioned, but....

There's the possibility that you can make arrangements to reprint an article or opinion piece from another outlet in exchange for subscription information or some other "scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" consideration.

For example, the newspaper could run a piece that got very little mainstream press attention -- like the Wall Street Journal article that documented the actual losses to the Baghdad Museum. Then, below the copyright information, you could list the subscription info and then also run a box ad for the WSJ adjacent to the article or elsewhere in the paper. (IF the author of the original article retained the copyright to the piece, you may have to deal directly with the author -- either via the WSJ or through the contact info they provide.)

Book excerpts are another possibility. Many authors will let you reprint a sample chapter from a book in exchange for book ISBN and other purchase details.

There's another advantage to taking either of these approaches: You could do "topic" issues of the newspapers. Whether or not you also have late-breaking, headline news is optional, but the more information that can be compiled to run in individual topic-driven issues, the easier it will be to meet deadlines. It's doubtful that a small independent newspaper of this type (done without the grants that seem to get thrown at such liberal endeavors) would be able to afford investigative reporters.

[fight_truth_decay]

The Internet! The News is already old by the time it hits the street.

[archy]

Only if the file cabinets have the really cool flaming file-destruct mechanism ;0)

If you're serious, I can fix you up with some military safe-contents thermite incendiary packs as used to ensure the security of classified data.

[archy]

Boy! I miss Monty Python. Did you ever listen to Firesign theatre??

Honk! Honk! Why it's Waffles, the goose!

-archy-/-

[archy]

How To Start An Independent Newspaper. ... .

First off, let me be blunt: . ... .

***************************

So, there you have it - a few ideas that will hopefully spark some discussion, ideas, activism, and information.

This is an ongoing work in progress, and is in no way complete.

First project for you, using the names of those who've responded to this post: Compile yourself four ping lists of FReepers who've expressed interest, with one for those interested in or contributing to the project in general [I added a *FR-RAG* tag in the keywords; that'll do until a tentative project name can be slugged onto it] and one each for the three legs of the journalistic endeavor tripod- circulation/distribution, editorial, and business/ advertising.

I've got around 35 years on and off working for various newspapers from the defunct Chicago Daily News and St Louis Sun to county weeklies and as a chain syndicated columnist. Of late I've been involved with a couple of magazines and online *new media* projects, and if I can help in any way with the startup of another one, I'd love to. It's a swell idea.

-archy-/-

[archy]

Another thing to think about is the use of images: who will take the pictures, and have them developed (or will the images be digital, to save on some costs?)

Most images for newspapers look 100% better using a "real" camera rather than a less expensive digital camera. (the issue is resolution rates and image size for the computer systems.)

I've been a newspaper and magazine photog since 1970, my start in the newspaper racket was as a news photog. If we need fotos, we can get 'em, either utilizing the best of the new technology as it develops [word carefully chosen!] or the old tried-and-true way if necessary. We CAN make it happen, aside from the easy use of shots from wireservices, stringers, freelancers and stock shot houses.

No big deal. A lot more has to be worked out before worrying about pic content becomes a particularly major consideration.

-archy-/- -

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thank you very much for your input, Archy - I am still in the planning stages (coming up with a good plan for action ,etc... and it takes time - I want it crefully thought out before I take ANY action so bear with me) and you've given me a lot to digest here...

Thanks! I appreciate the input and the offer. Will be posting the plan soon, and will ping the appropriate people!

[Celtman]

Bump.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the bump!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/990608/posts

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the bump!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/990608/posts

[drma]

Chad, Excellent information. Would you or anyone know how to then get press credentials that would give me access to the same information that the town newspapers have?

[Chad Fairbanks]

I'm still in the process of writing up a plan, and that is one area I havn't delved too deeply into yet. I'd love to know myself, as it is to certainly be part of the plan...

I'm going to look into it, and if I find out I will ping you - fair enough? :)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Here's a little something, for access to state legislatures that I turned up in my various searches for info...

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/press/lincs/presscredentials.htm

Other info I have found indicates that for large events and such, the best bet is to send a letter (on official letterhead for the organization you are representing) to the event coordinator in charge of Media Affairs/Outreach etc... and request press credentials for the event. There may, or may not, be a fee required - depending on teh event etc...

That's all I really have right now. :0)

[Knock3Times]

is this what you were looking for?