Hyperlocal news was the most promising opportunity for the future of digital news publishing. We take a simplified look at the staff costs involved in running a very small newsroom and look for evidence of sustainability after over 10 years since the term became popularised.

1. Hyperlocal news
- 10 years later
Is hyperlocal news still a sustainable opportunity beyond 2022?

2. DISCLAIMER-THISPRESENTATION
ISWRITTENBYSOMEONEWHOIS
ADIGITALNOMADAKANOT
INVOLVEDINTHEHYPERLOCAL
SPACEORANYNEWSOPERATIONS
ALSO RESEARCHED USING GOOGLE SEARCH AS PRIMARY TOOL :)
ALSO I LEFT THE IMAGE OF THE NICE LADY HERE

3. What is Hyperlocal?
Hyperlocal was defined in the UK by nesta -
“Hyperlocal media is defined as offering an online news or
content service pertaining to a small community such as a
town, village or single postcode. “
So think of it as a community news publication but online
By the way, Nesta is an amazing organisation which funds innovation in the United Kingdom - you can
find their research which is superior to my 10 second thought blast
https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/here-and-now-uk-hyperlocal-media-today/

4. IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IS ONE THAT HAS A GREATER INCOME THAN EXPENSES
FOR THOSE INTO EQUATIONS TRY —->>>> INCOMING $ > OUTGOING $
As this arena is hugely complex and each hyperlocal publisher will have unique needs and costs ,
this presentation will simplify (as phoning a friend is unavailable at the moment :)).
WHATISASUSTAINABLEBUSINESS
After burping to tweet opposite the other night, there was two
assumptions made
1. only printed news would generate income
2. throwing money at a wall will solve all problems
As I openly admitted that this was a daft question the idea
became —> how much would it cost to staff such an operation

5. AGAIN TRYING TO KEEP THIS SIMPLE, THERE WAS A 10 SECOND GOOGLE SEARCH WHICH PRODUCED
THE FOLLOWING RESULTS ~~
Who does what in a
newsroom - a guide to media
roles
https://inksights.rep-
ink.com/2020/07/who-
does-what-in-the-
newsroom-a-guide-to-
media-roles/
Authors contact -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbeaugrand/
HOWMUCH£NEEDEDFORSTAFF

6. AGAIN WORKING WITH FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS AND REMOVING THE COMPLEXITY OF HIRING AN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIST
Editor / News director / business manager
Person leading the hyperlocal business ~~~~ £ for editor £27k
Reporter x 2
Person uncovering the news. you need two reporters, in case one oversleeps ~~~~ £ for journalist 25k
Secretary
Vital support person who keeps everyone on track. First contact! *Very IMPORTANT ~~~ £21k
Grand total per year is an eye watering 98k per year
*Cost of roles was determined using the pay scale website ~~ payscale.com
KEYROLESASDEFINEDBYAMADMAN

7. I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT AS A FLEDGLING BUSINESS THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF SWEAT AND TEARS NEEDED TO PUSH AN INNOVATIVE BUSINESS INTO
PROFITABILITY.
HOWEVER, ACROSS THE POND, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , FORBES REPORTED LAST YEAR THAT HYPERLOCAL SITE PATCH TURNED A PROFIT
Key data in the report :
Journalist have to write 10 articles a
day
The hyperlocal has to serve a
minimum of 30k people
*https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2020/04/27/some-hyperlocal-media-
websites-are-profitable/?sh=22c516455d9a
WHEREDOIGETTHATMUCHMONEYFROM?

8. HTTPS://THESAURUS.PLUS/SYNONYMS/OVERSIMPLIFICATION
STILL IN OUR SIMPLIFIED WORLD VIEW, THE COST OF RUNNING THIS EFFECTIVE TEAM WOULD BE £377 PER DAY (5 DAYS A WEEK, 52 WEEKS PER YEAR) TO
PRODUCE MINIMUM OF 20 ARTICLES *ASSUMING THE EDITOR ADDS NO EXTRA ARTICLES
USING THE EXAMPLE DATA FROM FROBES WHICH WORKS ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED IS 30K, THIS BECOMES
OUR NUMBER OF UNITS PRODUCED.
Using the standard formula
Total cost per day = £377 / 30k
Total cost per day per reader aka visitor
= .013 pence
Assuming all your readership (30k) comes to your
online publication each day. They have to generate
an income of .013 to cover staff costs.
SIMPLECASHFLOWFORECASTPERDAY

9. UNLESS YOUR PUBLICATION IS OPERATING OR SERVING THE MOST WONDERFUL OF NEIGHBOURS, THE ORIGINAL THOUGHT THAT HYPERLOCAL
NEWS CAN SERVE A SINGLE POSTCODE WON’T WORK IN THE UK. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WHEN MEGA CITY ONE IS CREATED (*PLEASE READ 2000 AD)
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NOTABLE SUCCESS WITH PATCH.COM AND THERE ARE KEY DATA POINTS THAT CAN TO BE USED AS TARGETS
MOREDIFFICULTTHANFIRSTIMAGINED
CANYOUDOTHIS?
ONE EXCITING ‘TRUTH’ OF HYPERLOCAL OR ANYTHING INNOVATIVE IS THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT ANSWER. ITS TRUE, THAT AFTER A LOT OF
INVESTMENT AND RESTRUCTURING, PATCH.COM FOUND A WAY FORWARD . MAYBE YOU COULD CONTACT THEM AND RUN A SUB FOR YOUR AREA.
I DON’T KNOW!
KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF —->
CAN YOU SOURCE 20 UNIQUE ARTICLES (WRITTEN OR CURATED) FOR EACH PUSH
HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE TO COMPILE ARTICLES?
WHO IS ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS AREA?
SHOULD (OR CAN) YOU MONETISE YOUR SITE BEFORE (OR AFTER) PUBLICATION?