Comments on: But we make all our money from newsprint! http://www.copress.org/2008/12/04/but-we-make-all-our-money-from-newsprint/ Building a Better Technical Ecosystem for Student News Organizations Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:51:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joey Bakerhttp://www.copress.org/2008/12/04/but-we-make-all-our-money-from-newsprint/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Joey Baker Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:52:33 +0000 http://www.copress.org/?p=265#comment-45 I'm so glad you brought up the alumni point. I raised it briefly, but you're absolutely right. Alumni are a great source of for all three sources of revenue. • You can get sell national ads based on your alumni viewership. National ads are worth more money than local ads anyway. • Alumni have money to spend and would be willing to pay for premium content online. Perhaps hosting a social network of sorts. There's no reason why the news org couldn't run the alumni connecting services for/in competition with the university. • Again, Alumni have money. They can, and will donate if asked nicely. I’m so glad you brought up the alumni point. I raised it briefly, but you’re absolutely right. Alumni are a great source of for all three sources of revenue.
• You can get sell national ads based on your alumni viewership. National ads are worth more money than local ads anyway.
• Alumni have money to spend and would be willing to pay for premium content online. Perhaps hosting a social network of sorts. There’s no reason why the news org couldn’t run the alumni connecting services for/in competition with the university.
• Again, Alumni have money. They can, and will donate if asked nicely.

]]> By: Daniel Bachhuberhttp://www.copress.org/2008/12/04/but-we-make-all-our-money-from-newsprint/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Daniel Bachhuber Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:43:18 +0000 http://www.copress.org/?p=265#comment-44 I'd like to add two points. First, the "freemium" model is baller. I think, once we get these student news orgs on open source platform, there are literally <em>tons</em> of potential features we can upsell. iPhone app? That would be so sweet.Second, most student news organizations are non-profits with huge alumni bases. If you were really into evolving, you would: develop a strategic plan, pitch that theory sheet to the alumni, and use their donations to fund implementation. Unfortunately, the news org I formerly worked for used Filemaker Pro and snail mail newsletters to connect with alum. I think they'd have to upgrade that system before trying anything so bold. I’d like to add two points. First, the “freemium” model is baller. I think, once we get these student news orgs on open source platform, there are literally tons of potential features we can upsell. iPhone app? That would be so sweet.

Second, most student news organizations are non-profits with huge alumni bases. If you were really into evolving, you would: develop a strategic plan, pitch that theory sheet to the alumni, and use their donations to fund implementation. Unfortunately, the news org I formerly worked for used Filemaker Pro and snail mail newsletters to connect with alum. I think they’d have to upgrade that system before trying anything so bold.

]]> By: Craig Kanalleyhttp://www.copress.org/2008/12/04/but-we-make-all-our-money-from-newsprint/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Craig Kanalley Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:38:36 +0000 http://www.copress.org/?p=265#comment-43 This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time, and it's very timely especially with the current economy problems. I'm bookmarking it for sure. As former Online Editor at Cardinal Courier Online (St. John Fisher College), I follow much of what you say. We don't even pay anyone on our staff at the Courier, but we face many of the same problems. Now, a grad student at DePaul, I'm helping them get their site into the 21st century (www.thedepaulia.com). All of your commentary here is useful as I continue with that endeavor. This is one of the best articles I’ve read in a long time, and it’s very timely especially with the current economy problems. I’m bookmarking it for sure. As former Online Editor at Cardinal Courier Online (St. John Fisher College), I follow much of what you say. We don’t even pay anyone on our staff at the Courier, but we face many of the same problems. Now, a grad student at DePaul, I’m helping them get their site into the 21st century (www.thedepaulia.com). All of your commentary here is useful as I continue with that endeavor.

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