The Daily Peg: Pegasus News, Inc. Founder's Blog

Our assets

Working in old media, I always heard the old saw that "our assets drive home every night." I've always believed that, and think it's even more true in a world where the printing press is a browser and the distributor is a web connection.

What really blows me away, in our case, is all of the people who are putting substantial time and energy into Pegasus News without any pay save for a fridge full of sodas.

I've updated our staff page to recognize these plucky hardworking folks. We can't thank them enough.

We're in good company

KatieMac is prominently featured as a music scene up-and-comer in today's edition of Quick. Good on her -- only wished they'd mentioned her latest project.
   

 

 

 

 

Band together

If you are in a local band; know someone in a local band; or have even seen a local band-- go to music.pegasusnews.com. We're helping some friends cook up something really cool for the local music scene and we're gathering data on local acts.

Must-read part deux

Poynter Online has a one-two punch package on citizen journalism. Rick Edmonds doesn't see it living up to its hype:

The jury is way out on what business models, if any, work for blogs and citizen journalism. The noise-to-signal ratio in the new media forms remains alarmingly high. And it's time to stop this silly stuff about replacing big media.

And Steve Outing thinks it's almost time to start paying citizen journos:

While up till this point most "citJ" proprietors have benefited from a willingness of the public to submit content for no compensation other than exposure, a handful of new ventures are arising that attempt to change that.

While most citJ content will remain uncompensated -- because its quality isn't high enough to get anyone to pay for it -- the best of it will have a price tag. And publishers may have to adapt to paying for it.

Agreed. But not until we start paying our staff, OK?

Customer service 2.0

As much as people talk about the technologies and social interactions of Web 2.0, I often think that one of the best things about the movement is that it is, in many cases, led by people who are either outsiders or refugees from the traditional business world.

That means unexpected actions-- like this one from Typepad (my blogging provider) after a period of slow service and downtime.

Imagine getting a similar communication from your bank, power company or newspaper. No, really-- try to imagine it.

I can't wait to see the breakdown on the options selected.

UPDATE: And then, those who you once thought "got it" go inexplicably clueless.

Must-read o' the week

Lisa Williams of H2Otown writes a phenomenal guest column on PressThink about her experiences creating a Citizen Journalism site.

Is there a Lisa Williams in every city in America?

Hot space

First Backfence, now Newsvine gets a bucket of money. They're not focusing on local, but they sound like they're tinkering with something akin to our Daily You...

Also, a good overview of the new world order from The Deal.

UPDATE: Pajamas Media gets $3.5 million.

Selected out

I've widely disagreed with the "freemedia-ites" who have panned TimesSelect. They seem to be making good money at it, and more importantly, there hasn't been anything I've wanted behind the wall.

But this morning, someone called to tell me about an article I should read from today's NYT.

I went to the site, and found this apropos result:

Heh. Bastards.

The "studio" is open

In what I hope is the first of many such occurrences, a local music podcast was recorded in the alcove next to my office yesterday: Chris Machart of Millicent Friendly, chatting with Cindy Chaffin and Kate Mackley.

Can't say that we think of our office as big and corporate.

Developing...

Too hyperlocal?