Hi folks! This is probably my last post, as I’ll be passing the torch to Melissa Angle of the Orlando Sentinel in the next week or so. I know I’ve been MIA for a couple of months, but hopefully this news will make up for it. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve accepted a job at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I start on Sept. 4. Let’s all welcome Mangle and wish her luck.
Now, on to the real news:
New free pub launches in Fayetteville, N.C.
A couple of months ago Fayetteville residents began being treated to a new free pub called SmartNews. The editor and publisher is Randy Foster formerly of the Fayetteville Observer. The managing editor is none other than VizEds mainstay Jim McBee, most recently of Bluffton Today, but also an Observer alum. Creating a community daily was Jim’s bread and butter in Bluffton so I imagine he’ll be bringing that expertise to the table at SmartNews. He’s also been integral in solidifing the look of the paper. Randy was kind enough to answer a few questions for us via e-mail:
Can you tell us briefly what SmartNews is all about?
SmartNews has four goals: fascinating reading, affordable
advertising, well-treated staff, and a fair return for its owners.
In this current climate of “failing” newspapers, what would make you
want to start one?
I think newspapers are failing because of their four goals: dull
reading, expensive advertising, poorly-treated staff, and obscene
profits for their owners.
What makes your paper different from the local daily?
The local daily is solid but dreary. Its reach is regional — and so
are its advertising rates. Our paper is lively, its reach is local,
and its advertising rates are reasonable. We don’t aim to be the
paper of record or to dominate the market. We’re a quick, interesting
read, something that people want to pick up every day. We seek
advertising clients from among businesses that can’t afford the big
local daily, but which need to advertise.
Why Fayetteville?
Two reasons: My wife Sarah (and co-publisher) and I live there and we
know it. And the nature of Fayetteville’s transient population
provides a steady pool of new readers who are not loyal to the local
daily. Fayetteville is an Army town, and on any given day a third of
its population is getting ready to move away and a third is just
arriving. It is this transient population that requires us to produce
a newspaper that somewhat bucks the trend of going “local local
local.” Our readers want to know what is going on in the world.
Do you plan to expand?
I expect a big jump in revenue now that we have a solid ad sales team
in place. Once revenue catches up with expenses, we plan to double
our daily distribution to 16,000 and increase our frequency from four
days a week (Tuesday through Friday) to five (by adding a Saturday
edition). We plan to increase the size of staff accordingly.
What sort of “rules” do you have for editing and designing that will
engage the reader?
Lots of color, occasional humor, spectacular pictures, quick reads,
reader interaction.
What is the size of your staff?
Three in the newsroom plus two correspondents; four in advertising;
one in business; two in distribution plus 13 part-time contractors.
When did you launch, and how has business been?
June 5 we circulated a “sneak peek” edition. A week later we went
daily. Advertising has been slower than I’d like (we’re a month
behind expectations), but that is turning around rapidly. We have
more than 30 advertising accounts, up from 5 three weeks ago. And
that was what one good salesperson can do. I now have four ad people.
I am optimistic.
What is reader reaction like?
Readers love, love, love us. Managing editor Jim McBee, who does most
of the design, can take a bow on this one. His designs draw readers
in on Page 1 and spit them out satisfied on Page 16.
What plans do you have to incorporate the Web?
We have a Web site, which except for our sports columnist has not
been updated. I plan to turn that around in the next few weeks.
I see on the site you ask for submissions. What role does community
journalism play in SmartNews?
Page 2 is our “News Portal” page, dedicated to community submissions.
It started slow, but we have had a steady flow more recently. Several
times during the past two weeks the submissions have jumped to Page
3. I’d like there to be more reader submissions. My ideal mix would
be one third wire, one third reader contributions and one third staff
reports.
You can find SmartNews on the web at www.SmartNewsnc.com and (usually) daily at the Newseum.
New product and jobs at AJC
Prototype Design Editor (what an awesome job that would be!) Will Alford describes Evening Edge this way:
The AJC soon will launch a new weekly broadsheet publication for non-subscribers. Evening Edge is designed to provide busy people help in planning their evenings and weekends. It provides ideas and recipes for quick dinners, guidance on what to do with (or without) kids in the evening — including spending quality time with their plasma TVs — weekend car trips, parenting tips, shopping opportunities and more. It replaces the more narrowly focused Thursday Buyer’s Edge. The AJC’s popular in-paper Buyer’s Edge section focusing on shops, gadgets and consumer news will continue to appear on Saturdays.
Evening Edge will be delivered Thursday afternoons to more than 375,000 metro Atlanta homes. For the most part it will repackage and tailor existing content from the core newspaper. The first edition will hit driveways Oct. 4. A companion Web site is scheduled to launch in November. Will Alford did the print section design and prototyping.
I’m not sure about it being just for non-subscribers. Sounds like something everyone would want…Plus, it also sounds like something I’ve been advocating for the past couple of years….Damn you AJC!
So, you’re intersted in working for Evening Edge you say? Well, here’s the info:
Some new jobs have been created to support Evening Edge. If you’re interested in any of these, please mail resumes and cover letters to Newsroom Recruiter Rana L. Cash, 72 Marietta St. N.W., 8th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Deadline for applications is Sept. 1.
EDITOR, EVENING EDGE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking a section editor to lead Evening Edge. The editor produces the free weekly section targeted to an audience that does not now include AJC subscribers. The section will offer dining options and recipes. This editor seeks to understand the weekly publication’s unique audience and works to align its content to meet the particular interests of these readers. This editor generally uses content originally produced by AJC staff and AJC free-lancers to develop the mix of stories, photos, graphics and other elements appropriate to the special mission of this section. He/she also must collaborate closely with designers, graphics editors, copy editors and slots to assure the very best presentation and readability possible. This editor also collaborates with content departments to make sure that content needs of the section are being met. He/She makes the content decisions for the section. When working with free-lance writers, he/she will ensure that their work meets AJC standards. This editor must exhibit strong news and ethical judgment to ensure the section adheres to AJC standards and policies.
ASSISTANT EDITOR-DESIGNER, EVENING EDGE
The Assistant Editor-Designer supports the Section Editor by providing design and visual journalism skills to a free weekly section focused on dining and recipes.
This editor/designer helps maximize section’s appeal to an audience that does not now include AJC subscribers. This candidate seeks to understand the weekly’s unique audience and works to align its content to meet the particular interests of these readers. He/she generally uses content produced by AJC staff and AJC freelancers to develop the mix of stories, photos, graphics and other elements appropriate to the special mission of this section. He/she also must collaborate with Print Department colleagues, in particular working closely with other designers, graphics editors, copy editors and slots to ensure the very best presentation and readability possible. He/She also collaborates with content departments to make sure that content needs of the section are being met. Guided by the directives of the section editor, he/she makes content decisions for the section. When working with free-lance writers, he/she will ensure that their work meets AJC standards. This editor/designer must exhibit strong news and ethical judgment to ensure the section adheres to AJC standards and policies.
ONLINE CHANNEL MANAGER / STRATEGIC CHANNELS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking Channel managers/strategic who are responsible for shaping, publishing and managing editorial content that appears on our Web sites, as well as coordinating news coverage and assisting with product development intended to grow the online audience and increase revenue for channels specified as “competitive” (Entertainment, Jobs, Homes, Cars, Health, Travel). An interest in food and/or dining is preferred. A channel manager must also be able to assist in the training and development of co-workers, have a strong knowledge of the Web business model, be creative and able to meet traffic goals set for the channels assigned. Digital is a 24/7 operation and nontraditional shifts/schedules may be required. This position has a direct line reporting structure to the Print department, and a dotted line to the Evening Edge Product Manager.
INFORMATION SPECIALIST, EVENING EDGE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking an Information Specialist to build online traffic for its Evening Edge coverage. The free weekly publication will focus on dining. The Information Specialist builds loyalty to ajc.com through the creation of useful information that helps our readers believe our slogan, “Knowing Atlanta best is our business.” Information specialists gather and report information to build pages and features online that may take the form of guides, lists, databases, capsule information, short formatted stories and more. This information specialist will be trained in all the tools and responsibilities of the Information Desk, but will be asked to concentrate primarily on maintaining and updating the restaurant database, proposed new recipe databases and features for a food-centric website that also may be repurposed for the Evening Edge print section . The new site, which is to launch in November, will be the destination for users seeking any information related to dining in Atlanta – whether in or out. Its particular emphasis will be on helping the user get dinner on the table, or find a suitable restaurant.
So, I’m hoping to pass on the blog et al. to Melissa who can be contacted at mangle@orlandosentinel.com. Don’t forget you can sign up for e-mail updates at:
Ernie: So when...