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<p style="padding-left: 65px;"><em>Plenty of experience at play in <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1508">today’s forum</a> on increasing revenue for local news sites. The thread is still open and well worth a read. Here are some highlights:</em></p>
<strong>Of all the themes running through today’s conversation, I pick the word of the day as NEED</strong>. Start with this point from <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/dangrech/">Dan Grech</a>, news director of WLRN in Miami, on creating "indispensable" content:

"..indispensable content means providing <strong>information and perspectives that address the particular <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1484">urgent needs</a></strong> of a niche audience.”

Then hear <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/emilylowrey/">Emily Lowrey</a>, founder of Magic City Post.

"I think if you go at it at that angle of<strong> just getting financial support for your journalism, that you’ll struggle. If you find a problem to solve though, you’ll <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1486">get the support you need and flourish</a></strong>.” <!--more-->

<a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/deniseciviletti/">Denise Civiletti</a> says her site Riverhead Local, solves a problem just <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1540">filling the local news hole</a>.

"People often use the word “addicted” when they talk about our site. They say they know they can come to riverheadlocal.com to find out what’s happening when it’s happening.”

<strong>So how do you figure out if there’s really a need? Ask questions, and test theories.</strong> Then use those same skills to find your business model. <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/joe-michaud/">Joe Michaud</a> coaches startup news sites. He <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1573">says</a> journalists’ <strong>skills of interviewing and questioning assumptions are great for figuring out a business plan.</strong> Many people today spoke about the challenge of providing quality content AND doing the business end. Community Impact Newspaper's <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/johnpgarrett/">John Garrett</a> has hired plenty of journos and sales reps recently as he's re-pioneered an old path – he’s started a dozen community newspapers since 2005. <strong>If there’s no budget to hire everyone</strong> you want, he <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1465">says</a> <strong>think of sales differently</strong>.

"I dont think local news startups can afford to hire quality journalists AND quality salespeople AND make money. But if someone with a journalism background is passionate enough about their mission I would encourage them to try to get over the sales reluctance. People buy people.”

People in today’s conversation had <strong>a lot of specific tips on managing local news startups to maximize revenue</strong>. For example:
<ul>
	<li>How to <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1571">do giveaways cheaply</a>, from journalist and blogger <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/communitypoweredreporting/">Beth Wellington</a>.</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1588">Words</a> that might get advertisers “out of the numbers game,” from publisher <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/andrenatta/">Andre Natta</a>.</li>
	<li>A combo <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1524">info campaign and social networking fundraiser</a> that <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/carolshirey/">Carol Shirey</a> at The Rapidian is planning right now.</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1549">When it’s worthwhile</a> to fight with your business manager, according to <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/nedberke/">Ned Berke</a> of Sheepshead Bites.</li>
</ul>
The question triggering the most passion today – measured in number of answers – took the group’s <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1512">pulse on partnering with legacy news outlets</a>. Who gains, who loses, and what’s the trade?  There is more on collaboration negotiations between large and small publishers throughout the <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/local-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/#comment-1508">thread</a>.

<strong>Today we got a lot of feedback that the forum platform can be hard to follow</strong> as the conversation unfolds at a rapid pace during the live chat. <strong>That is really helpful information; creating the ideal online conversation is a nut we want to crack</strong>. Meanwhile, we’ve posted some tips to get the most out of this format on <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/questions/community/niche-news-startups-how-do-you-make-it-work-financially/">tomorrow’s forum page</a>. How do you make niche news startups work financially? Join in tomorrow at 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern to weigh in and find out.