[Chad Fairbanks]

So, there you have it - a few ideas that will hopefully spark some discussion, ideas, activism, and information.

This is an ongoing work in progress, and is in no way complete.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ping!

[cyborg]

I like this. Every so often a useful idiot from the Many Races Foundation puts a newsletter in my door. The hucksters are making millions being political rabble rousers.

Aside from that, I have a lot of things and pictures I'd like to put down on paper. Thanks for this thread.

[firewalk]

bttt

[Maigrey]

Another thing you should keep in mind is the focus of the paper in question.

For instance, who will be the bulk of the audience? Which socio-economic group? Will the paper fill a niche in the community, or will be a broad-based news media outlet?

Another thing to consider will be: how are you going to get writers for the paper? College students on a per-word basis, interns, or community members who submit articles on consignment?

Another issue: will the paper be a free paper, dependent on the advertising rates to pay for the costs, or will subscribers/fee pay cover part of the costs? Also, will there be more than one form of the paper (such as online)? Will this be subscription or a freebie?

Finally, How can you generate enough venture capital to invest in the startup costs of the paper? Investors, private donations from charity gropus, or another method? This should be in the business plan.

Finally, for the liberal freaks who steal papers in an effort to prevent the news from being disseminated, there are laws on the books for this form of misbehavior. I know they vary from state to state, but I think it comes down to the cost of the paper per issue for determining the level of the theft charge. I'll have to check further for information.

[Noachian]

What are the legal issues involved?

This is a good question – one that I have relatively few answers for

The legal thing is the part that would worry me most. Each city has an alternate newspaper, and they have three things in common: they're left wing, they're full of ads, and they never get sued.

I've seen some outrageous reporting in alternate newspapers, but these left wing papers get a pass on whatever they say and no advertisers pull away from them.

I'm quite sure a Conservative alternate newspaper wouldn't get the same treatment as a left wing paper. Print one column that "offends" liberals and the liberal double standard would kick in: Advertisers would be pressured to pull out, lawsuits would have to be paid for, and the paper racks would be vandelized.

Feedom of the press is a one-way road to radical liberals, and that's probably why you don't see any Conservative alternate newspapers in the local coffee shop rack.

[TopQuark]

Chad, thanks for a great compilation and sharing your experience with us.

The question I have is this: why would you want to start a newspaper with clear diseconomies of scale (to be big is cheaper than small but requires huge funds to get there), when you can create a web site? The "distribution" of materials, as well as marketing, must be much cheaper.

[SauronOfMordor]

Notice how all the "free" newspapers (ie, newspapers whose costs are 100% supported by ads) are extreme Leftist, while conservative journals like National Review are mostly supported by subscription, and places like FR are 100% financed by readers. When you have a situation like that, widespread throughout the country, it makes sense to assume that it's not coincidence, but a symptom of a systemic problem

Leftists and Conservatives do not behave the same. Leftists LOVE to harass and boycott any company that supports the Right. The Right does not throw rocks thru a company manager's window merely because the company bought add space in a Leftist publication. Therefore, companies that just want to make a peaceful profit shy away from "controversial" (ie Rightwing) publications.

[GOPJ]

Distribute papers in areas that support your advertisers. Distribution outside advertisers boundaries is fun, but destructive to your paper's survival. Word of mouth matters. Also, skip vanity printings. The number of pages printed is dependent on column inches sold. Keep it honest.

When distributing, be creative. The more you distribute, the more people you will reach with your message.

[Mark Turbo]

The Rhinoceres Times has been a successful conservative weekly newspaper for about 10 years now. If you're serious about getting a paper started, John and William Hammer, the editor and publisher respectively, are bound to have good advice.

[Hilltop]

As a newspaper publisher, I would recommend you start with a self inventory. Do you have the experience in marketing, advertising and journalism.

Have you written a detailed business plan delineating your overall strategy for profitability. After all, printers and vendors desire to be paid for their services.

Whatis your distribution model. Is it going to be free? Will your enterprise be funded by paid circulation including racks and subscriptions.

Have you incorporated, if so which type of corporation?Will your venture be capitalized to withstand months of negative cash flow?

Have you obtained a quote on errors and omissions coverage?

Will you hire and retain a staff of writers, layout and design personnel, graphic artists, circulation department, public relations?

Is your venture driven by your heart or your head. It's a trite question, but one that begs an answer.

Business is quite simple actually, it's either on the cost side or the revenue side.

Most people fail, not from lack of knowledge, but from lack of execution.

Free mail me if I can be of any assistance.

Hilltop

[foreverfree]

bump

[StriperSniper]

A guy in my town who had some axe to grind with the locals started a weekly. It's kind of a mini-broadsheet looking thing with a couple of feature articles, an advice column, a few comics, a small classified section and lots of local ads.

And my favorite, the police blotter written by 'Charlie Chan'. It has a bunch of local stuff told with a little flair. Here's a sample:

OUT THE DOOR: At Blockbuster a gent, personage unknown, enters store,went into the "Movie Section" and proceeded to "stuff an unknown quantity of video's and D.V.D.'s into his jacket." Gent exits store, alarm goes off. Worker yells "stop!", gent doesn't. natch. Gent does opposite, runs. Off. arrives, search of area turns up negative. Gent was on the hefty side, 240 lbs., age about 30, height 5'10" with dark hair. March 12th 2:54 p.m.

It's distributed around town in small stacks on sills and such by the doors of deli's and the like.

[smith5460]

I have a few ideas for a regional/national newspaper.

If you want to cover several states or perhaps the entire country, you could have local bureaus throughout the region you wish to publish and sell the newspaper. For example, there could be a Seattle Bureau, a Walla Walla bureau, a Boise bureau, etc.

The paper could consist of four sections: National News, Local News/Lifestyle, Sports/Business, and Classifieds.

The National News would be the same for all the bureaus.

The local news/lifestyle section would be written and put together by each bureau. This way each edition of the paper will be different in each bureau as it will focus on its own local news.

The sports/business section would encompass both national and local sports and business news.

For the classifieds, each bureau could sell local advertising while the national HQs could sell ads for the entire nation.

Feel free to reply with any comments or questions.

[Consort]

How about a Blog in printer friendly format?

[hosepipe]

Now this is a very good idea,,,,
Going Hmmmmmm to myself.....keep me posted.. on your progress... have a large conservative audience here.. No conservative right wing extremeist mean spirited papers that I see here.... could be time for one... or two..

[Kay Soze]

"Have you ever noticed how often they are left-wing publications? "

Very true!

Great thread!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[rwfromkansas]

Make sure to be as anal as you can be about copyright.

You don't want to be sued. Only use royalty-free stock photos for those pictures not taken by you or a staff member unless you get written permission.

Do not reprint written work unless you get written permission or it is in the public domain.

[snopercod]

?

[freeangel]

Bump

[Seeking the truth]

Hey Jack, didn't you think of doing this last year?

Maybe you can impart some info here.