Center Square Journal

An Overview - January 31, 2013

Tonights Plan
1. Background presentation
2. Q&A
3. Potential scenarios
4. Discussion
5. Report online
6. Online discussion Mike Ryan Mike Ryan Mike

Company History
Center Square Ledger launch - Jan 2010 Center Square Journal launch - Apr 2010 Roscoe View Journal launch - August 2010 Edgeville Buzz aflation - June 2011 ChiAd - Oct 2011-March 2012 Five different editors, all hired away (yay!)

One Month After Last Article:

Still Getting 450 Unique Visits A Day

78% Are Visits to Archive Content

Site Trafc
Unique Visits per Month
RVJ
40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Jan 2010

CSJ

Jul 2010

Jan 2011

Jul 2011

Jan 2012

Jul 2012

CSJ Mobile Trafc %

Mobile
40 30 20 10 0 Jan 2010 May 2010 Sep 2010 Jan 2011 May 2011 Sep 2011 Jan 2012 May 2012 Sep 2012

Were Top Ranked

1. UptownUpdate.com 2. ChicagoJournal.com 3. CenterSquareJournal.com 4. ChicagoWeekly.net 5. EdgevilleBuzz.com

Source: 2012 New News Report

Our Readers
Returning Visitors Twice Wk Sources
Search Direct Facebook Twitter

47% 20%
27% 18% 15% 3%

38% 16%
32% 18% 14% 3%
From Google Analytics

Readership Survey

70% of readers from neighborhoods Readers want (in order): development, businesses, schools, politics, crime news 35% with masters and above 88% Registered to vote 43% Married/partnered 52% Have HH income $75,000 or above Top ZIPs: 60613, 18, 57, 25
Source: Fall 2011 Readership Survey

Most Popular Articles

5. Ravenswood Community Councils Bad Contracts - Nov 9, 2011

4. Old Town Pulls Plug on Folk & Roots - Mar. 6 , 2012

3. Neighbors Rally to Close Centro - Oct. 19, 2011

Most Popular Articles

2. Glenn Leaves Glenns Diner Nov. 2, 2012

1. Sexual Favors at Massage Parlors - Dec. 4, 2012

Most Popular Articles

5. New Ward Maps - Dec. 18, 2011

4. Lakeview Area Master Plan Details - Mar. 11 , 2011 3. Chicago Fire Pilot in RV - Mar. 22, 2012

Most Popular Articles

2. Target In Talks To Purchase Lincoln-Ashland-Belmont Building - Dec. 4, 2012

1. Marianos Fresh Market Opens - Aug. 23, 2011

Most Important Work

5. The Business of Festivals

4. Hamlin Park Crime Coverage

3.Ravenswood Community Council Investigation

Most Important Work

2. 2012 LSC Election Coverage

1. 2011 Aldermanic Election Coverage

Editorial Competitors
Daily Newspapers (Chicago Tribune, Sun Times) Digital Hyperlocal (DNAInfo, Patch) Listings (Reader, Time Out Chicago,Yelp, Metromix) Discussion (Everyblock) Entertainment (Red Eye) Other (Aldermanic Email, Chamber of Commerce)

Community
A neighborhood-based community publication is a clear advocate for local causes.

City-wide

Neighborhood-based

Downtown

Revenue Sources
(decreasing order of amount)
1. Display Ads 2. Grants 3. Festival Coverage 4. Memberships 5. Site Design and Management 6. Social Media Management 7. L Stop Flyers

Leading Advertisers
Chambers of Commerce Real Estate Insurance Health care Banks/Financial Retail stores

Ad Competitors
Social Media Consultants ZIP Code booklets Deal Sites (Groupon, etc.) Loyalty Programs (Belly, Ox & Pen, etc.) Entertainment Publications (for bars) Radio

Wheres The Revenue?

Bigger players with bigger marketing
budgets get SMB ad dollars rst.

Readers want local news, but businesses

dont necessarily want local customers.

Small businesses resist marketing. ROI isnt good enough for many SMBs.
More at blog.fourcher.net

Cost of Operations
Two Part time editors
Servers, phones, etc.
Site operations:
Minimum needed annually

$41,000 $3,000 $12,000 $56,000

Questions?

Possible Outcomes
1. Private citizens & businesses sponsor operations, continue as normal
Mix of donations and long-term sponsorships up-front Mike steps out of most editorial operations Annual funding needed Remains as for-prot entity

Possible Outcomes
2. NFP takes over operations with community support
Assets transferred to outside organization NFP assumes operations costs & staffs org Some operations paid for by sponsorships & ads

Possible Outcomes
3. Site closes
Remains as archives Ownership remains with Mike

Possible Outcomes
4. Other
Whats your best idea?

Discussion