Resource-rich Marchex writes about its trial of MyZip.net, a network of paid local bloggers.
Here is a selection of recent posts from the MyZip neighborhood sites:
- A look inside the Beverly Hills public library from 90210.com
- Where to find one-of-a-kind gifts in Plymouth from 02360.net
- How the Portland’s Parkrose Heights post office is holding up during the holiday rush from 97220.net
- A celebration of West Reno’s Wells Avenue from 89509.net
- How to give back to the West Seattle community from 98126.net
Hmm… Our zip code, until it’s recent split into two zip codes, covered about 40,000 people in about 40 identifiable neighborhoods. So a blog written by one paid person about little items within our zip code doesn’t sound very compelling… like the 3rd or 4th page of the local section of the newspaper, without the newspaper behind it. I’m not intimately familiar with any of Machex’s early demo areas though, and I don’t understand much of their model… perhaps it will be great.
Posted in: Citizen Journalism, Front Porch Forum, Local Online, Neighborhood, Social Media
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
Come on! At least the front page of the local section š Glad to hear your newspaper is still covering your streets at such a local level. In my experience, the attention has shifted or was never there in the first place.
Hi Justin… fair enough. This was clearly the case when I lived in Washington, DC and the Post was dreadful at covering local news and didn’t even try to cover neighborhood-level news.
Now, in Burlington, VT, the local paper fills a page or two every day of the stuff your bloggers aim to write about. This one newspaper is prominent in about 20 zip codes, if I had to guess. So 20 blogs would likely be an improvement.
I’ll bet that your service will have some hits and some duds, depending on the local scene, the writers you get, etc. It’ll be interesting to see! Best wishes.
Perhaps the issues you bring up explain why MyZip didn’t make it past the trial period. My own zip code is a small space, though, one of three zips in a small town, and it seemed like a good idea.