Kara Visits Hollywood News Blog, TheWrap.com (Complete With Cottage HQ Like ATD!)
by Kara Swisher
Posted on May 5, 2009 at 10:00 AM PT
While the current meme is that traditional journalism is getting the stuffing knocked out of it by the digital onslaught, it neglects to notice that a lot of really sharp news reporters are actually getting some real traction by finally starting to be serious about creating online sites designed to compete.
As case in point, BoomTown recently went to visit the offices of TheWrap.com, a Web blog aimed at dominating breaking news about the business of Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Funded by Seattle-based venture firm Maveron, it was founded by former New York Times and Washington Post reporter Sharon Waxman.
With a small team of writers, editors and one single business person–and run out of a cottage in back of her house in Santa Monica, Calif.–Waxman is trying to combine the high standards and ethics of journalism, the news-breaking abilities of longtime pros and a low budget.
The business plan is, no surprise: Advertising.
(Hey, just like All Things Digital! Except Waxman is near a pretty beach and our San Francisco-based World HQ–also known as a cottage behind my house–is foggier.)
In any case, innovative efforts like Sharon Waxman’s might become the rule rather than the exception in the future of the news media.
So far, on her own since its launch in late January, TheWrap.com is garnering several hundred thousand daily visitors each month, moving close to the Web sites of trade publications that cover the industry.
Here’s my video interview with Waxman, in which she gives the who, what, where and why:
Comments
It’s interesting that those who were laid off by newspapers are helping to deal a big blow to the industry.
Talent is always valuable and too many talented people were kicked out of newspapers for budget reasons. Payback can be a…
Posted by Ken Okel at May 5th, 2009 at 11:19 amCool piece on The Wrap, a site that is becoming a lot more necessary to read than the traditional trades. But maybe you should use an external mic for the interviewee? Or hire a soundperson? It’s a little hard to hear Waxman.
Posted by Rick Fleishman at May 6th, 2009 at 8:34 amKara,
I want to share your enthusiasm for these “cottage journalism” efforts. No doubt they can produce meaningful work. Look at Voice of San Diego , a not for profit example. But , there is no obvious economic model. A subscriber model might work like that used by Izzy Stone, or the “Hill”. But there are more niches out there than advertisers. As one knock, why is all the video on.. all things.. always shaky verite’ genre. Learn to shoot, edit , and use the language properly. Some words actually have “ing” endings.
Posted by steve cohen at May 8th, 2009 at 10:49 am