Draft KNC10 application:
TITLE
newspaper-subscriptions.org
DESCRIPTION
Newspaper Subscription Network (NSN) allows community newspapers to sell website subscriptions while providing additional value to readers. Value to readers comes by way of access to all local newspaper content from member websites.
Consumers pay to subscribe to the participating newspaper nearest them geographically, included in the subscription fees is access to ALL other newspaper websites in the NSN network.
Subscribers are asked to pay the subscription fee to support their local newspaper, but NOT asked to pay again for each and every news source on the internet.
NEWS & INFORMATION DELIVERY TO GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES
Increase financial sustainability for online newspapers. Provides incentives for competing newspapers to link to each other and collaborate.
WHAT IS UNIQUE?
Unlike commercial paywall solutions NSN would be open source with no proprietary logic or ulterior business motives. Subscriber data can be used to enhance advertising effectiveness, but participation is such activities is optional for each publisher.
In contrast to the current AP model, content will not be syndicated. Only unique content created by the publisher can be secured behind the subscription system. This is intended to act as a dis-incentive to publishers creating little original content and simply aggregating to collect subscription revenue.
Draft KNC10 application:
TITLE
Class-APP
DESCRIPTION
iPhone / Droid application providing realtime classified ad submission to newspaper websites.
Users can snap a photo, enter a description, price and tap UPLOAD. Vastly lowers the barrier of entry for classified ad submissions. Can be used for merchandise for sale, autos, real estate and personal ads.
Business version allows businesses to post multiple items and mange their inventory. Creates a virtual marketplace for local merchants on newspaper classified sites.
NEWS & INFORMATION DELIVERY TO GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES
From merchandise for sale to personals, classified ads are content. People interact with each other, creating the 5th estate of media. Class-APP creates a platform that encourages people to submit content and share with others, particularly people they do not even know.
A relationship between the newspaper is created is non traditional readers, potentially elevating civic awareness.
WHAT IS UNIQUE?
Promotes the interaction between young smart phone users with civic media.
Sustainability – Create new revenue streams for newspaper websites, offering the commercial version of the app for classified ad inventory.
Draft KNC10 application:
TITLE
Tech co-op
DESCRIPTION
Spot.us but for web development projects instead of journalism.
Need a website that plots a database of traffic accidents on a visual timeline?
Submit your request to the CO-OP and let members vote for their favorite. If your idea is selected by members as most worthy, we develop it.
Every month we will develop the winning idea for free and release it open source.
NEWS & INFORMATION DELIVERY TO GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES
Creates a steady flow of innovative open source software resources to the news community….
WHAT IS UNIQUE?
Innovative ideas are vetted by the community that will use them.
Motivates news orgs to embrace the open source movement. By pooling our resources we can accomplish great things.
Sustainability – During the 2 year grant period, the service is free. After which we may require a monthly or yearly membership fee, AP style. Some web developments will require hosting. We will provide a competitively priced option for news orgs who lack hosting resources.
Draft KNC10 application:
TITLE
ContentMobility.org
DESCRIPTION
Commoditize the technology required to create mobile news applications.
A web-based service that allows the user to create mobile websites as easily as creating a blog. Accepts data feeds (RSS, XML, ATOM, etc.) and produces a mobile version for cell phone browsers. Allows content publishers to create a mobile “collection” featuring data feeds from their own site and aggregates from others. Each site can be customized and branded individually.
Working example of an XML feed from a small community newspaper:
http://mobile.dailyrepublic.com/
NEWS & INFORMATION DELIVERY TO GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES
Allows content providers with limited funds and technical expertise to publish their content on a variety of mobile platforms.
WHAT IS UNIQUE?
Aggregation – RSS to mobile is nothing new but this concept allows for the simple creation of information portals containing feeds from a variety of sources. For example I might publish a feed called “news” that aggregates the local news feeds to from two competing news sites.
Public Good – Small community organizations without the technical resources to pull off a production at this level will be able to utilize this system in a hosted environment. Costs are offset by advertising support.
Sustainability – We’ll use mobile adwords to monetize content. Using the following logic to encentify publishing content, aggregating content and selling local advertising.
1. ContentMobility retains the PPC revenue on publisher owned content.
2. PPC revenue generated on aggregated content is paid to the content owner.
3. The content publisher monetizes their mobile site by selling AdWords management to local customers and with incremental PPC revenue form syndicated content.
