Local news site TBD is set to launch in D.C. in the next week and as a journalism enthusiast, I couldn’t be more excited.
Here’s why:
1. ITS NEW, FRESH PERSPECTIVE is what we need more of for healthy journalism these days, and it’s launching in a market saturated with traditional journalism. TBD’s focus on digital, mobile, and community engagement are a killer combination, and it will surely be constantly experimenting and innovating. Also, some have doubted TBD already, and the latest Washington Post article on TBD was less than praiseworthy. Who doesn’t like an underdog, especially one that some aren’t taking seriously?
2. ITS ALL-STAR TEAM immediately makes it formidable, starting with Jim Brady and branching out. I’ve actually gotten to know several on the TBD staff in 140 characters at a time the past two years on Twitter. Steve Buttry immediately comes to mind and I’ve followed his work for so long. Also Daniel Victor, Jeff Sonderman and others. The 50+ TBD staffers are filled with talent and they are personalities worth rooting for.
3. ITS SIMILARITIES TO CHICAGONOW have me both excited for TBD and hopeful. The hyperlocal community blog network launched in May 2009 by the Chicago Tribune put an emphasis on social media and community engagement via community managers. Now home to 300+ blogs, ChicagoNow grew quickly and has to be considered a success. TechCrunch had a nice feature on it just a few months ago. (I interned with the ChicagoNow team from June 2009 until November 2009.)
Time will tell whether this endeavor is a success. The journalism world is watching closely, as am I. The rest, as they say, is TBD.
