The Alternative Press

For the alternative rock magazine, see Alternative Press.
The Alternative Press
Headquarters New Providence, New Jersey, U.S.
Area served New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Founder(s) Michael Shapiro
Key people Michael Shapiro, CEO
Industry Local News
Services Online news and opinion
Website www.TheAlternativePress.com
Type of site News
Launched October 2008
Current status Active

The Alternative Press is a network of independently owned and operated local news websites based out of New Providence, New Jersey. The network covers more than fifty towns throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.[1]

History

The Alternative Press was founded by Michael and Lauryn Shapiro, residents of New Providence, New Jersey in October 2008. Their goal was to provide local, independent news about their town.[1]

Operations

Each Alternative Press site is independently owned and operated. The franchisee for a given town pays an annual fee and a percentage of the revenue they receive through sales of advertising. In exchange for these fees, the network provides a content management system and help with both the business and editorial sides of their operation.[2] Some sites are operated by individuals, while others are operated by a group of two to four people who each work on the site part-time.[2] Many of the site owners are former editors for Patch Media, a failed hyperlocal news network formerly operated by AOL.[3][4][5]

In 2014, the network was rebranded as "TAP" and began using the new address of tapinto.net.

References

  1. 1 2 The Alternative Press: About Us
  2. 1 2 Can local news scale? The Alternative Press tests a franchise model in New Jersey | Knight Digital Media Center
  3. ↑ Ex-Patch reporters launch new hyperlocal sites
  4. ↑ TAPinto.net Announces Launch of Bridgewater-Raritan Site, Franchised by Former Bridgewater Patch Editor and Current Newspaper Owner Audrey Blumberg
  5. ↑ Former Patch Editors See Bright Future for The Alternative Press Model
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