So what do you think of the newsletter?
The Front Page has been published since February
The Front Page
Afternoon Update
Thursday, October 27, 2021
By Ken Tingley
“The Front Page” is an ongoing experiment and a glimpse into how you might receive news and information in the future.
Just in case you were wondering.
I started writing this newsletter nine months ago at the suggestion of a colleague. He introduced me to the substack platform - an experiment in its own right - and how it worked. Free lance writers and sometimes full-time writers have struggled to make a living, well, maybe forever. Substack was invented to level the playing field.
If you the writer could muster an audience through social media, you might be able to make a living without a middle man - an employer - if you could get your readers to subscribe. Substack takes 10 percent of anything you earn.
For instance, if you could get just 1,000 people to subscribe to your newsletter at $5 a month, that’s $5,000 a month or $60,000 a year. That is twice what many reporters are currently paid.
Big-name journalists with huge followings such as Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald and Andrew Sullivan have taken their work to substack and made a killing.
There are a number of issues playing out here.
The big question is how quickly readers will feel comfortable paying for specific expertise or information online. That is happening slowly right now. I compare it to not wanting to pay for cable television in the early days. But we all eventually did that.
While the New York Times and Washington Post have prospered with a digital subscription model, most other newspapers and magazines have struggled to grown their readership by paying for online content. As advertising revenues slipped away, they have had to cut resources. That has led to less content.
When I retired in the summer of 2020, I knew I wanted to keep writing. I immediately began two book projects and then added a third. As I researched substack, I wondered if using substack and writing a newsletter might be a good way to keep people informed about the book projects.
But after writing a column at the newspaper for three decades, I quickly learned I still had something to say. Most years at The Post-Star, I wrote about 90 columns. I’ve written nearly 150 in just nine months.
I believe there is a niche I can fill that provides insight from my years as an editor and writer. At one point, the newspaper had a column in the newspaper every day. That is not the case anymore. When I was putting together the content for “The Last American Editor” (my collection of columns), I realized that my column provided insights into the history and people who lived and worked in this region. People have responded favorably to that work. I still believe that column has value.
I wondered if I could help fill the local information void and add context to the issues of our day with my insights. I know I don’t want to be a full-time journalist in retirement, but I still enjoy the writing. I guess that’s why you are seeing this newsletter so often.
Many of you may still be wondering what this product is supposed to be. To be honest, I’m not really sure either. The newsletter and I are both evolving.
For that reason, I decided to make my newsletter free, at least initially, because I didn’t know what the content would be, or even if I wanted to do it.
The readership has gradually grown, but of course there is no charge. Statistics show about 1 in 3 subscribers open the email they receive. A few people comment, some click the “like” button.
Sadly, political criticism still draws the largest audience. When I wrote about my experience at the Adirondack Film Festival, not so much.
How we get and consume information and news is continuing to evolve. Eventually, if you want good information, you are going to have to pay for it. I now pay for two online subscriptions to newspapers while also getting The Post-Star at home.
So after nine months, I’m wondering how I’m doing. Some days I wonder if I should even continue. But then something makes me mad, or someone does something to inspire me.
Let me know what you think.
Let me know what you would like to see more of.
I’ve got the times to listen.
Book writing
As most of you probably know, “The Last American Editor” has been for sale since August on Amazon and a dozen or so local outlets. I’ve gotten 20 five-star reviews on Amazon so far and have a bunch of events planned in early November, including a book signing at Northshire Books on Saturday, November 6 from 1 to 2 p.m.
If you are looking for a “good news” book, something to inspire you and make you think, this is for you.
The second book - “The Last American Newspaper” - is a memoir of all the great work that we did at The Post-Star during my 21 years as editor. I was able to go back and talk to 25 or so of my former colleagues to tell their stories about the work that made such a difference.
I’m proud of the work and hope you look for that when it comes out in the spring.
This past week, I was in Cooperstown doing some research to finish up my third book, a collection of stories about obscure baseball players. I’m still looking for a publisher for this one, but the introductory essay to the book is all about local legend Johnny Podres.
Nothing more relaxing for me than to be doing some research at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
I value your opinion, reporting and efforts to be straightforward. I read your posts regularly and if you have the need to receive a fee, I would pay. To me you are a breath of common sense.
I definitely support your newsletter endeavor. I also subscribe to several newspapers online. I love the convenience of digital subscribing. It is obvious you are passionate about writing so please continue your good efforts to keep your readers informed and challenge us once in awhile.