New trad newspaper

[Miriam_M]

I agree that Catholic publications -- whether print or digital -- that are centered on scandal and rumor do not feed one's faith but lead to discouragement.  There's also a danger, as one of my trad associates says, of giving the opposing forces "more power than they already have."  Further, there are plenty of outlets that already do that.

Regarding original content, however, that's not something that I myself always look for-- at least, not from the editors/publishers themselves.  What I like when I access Rorate, for example, is to read a stimulating, well-written article that someone else has authored.  Rorate merely does me the favor of centralizing several articles in one place.  I notice that they seem slightly more balanced, in sum, toward the hopeful rather than the hopeless.  Or at least it seems that way to me, and that also attracts me to the site. 

So what I look for is well-chosen content, not "original" content.  In fact, I would only "look for that" if the publisher or editor is someone whose style of writing I am already familiar with and respect, and whose understanding of Tradition is quite obviously authentic, which is more than what I can say for many others out there.  That is, it would mean that the person has been educated and catechized in Tradition, and that also is rare.

I actually really appreciate sites with lots of solid links to traditional spirituality, traditional doctrine, writings of the saints, and so forth.  That's not original content, but I don't care.

[bigbadtrad]

Reporting bad news constantly sells better than reporting spiritual stuff. There is curiousity, which copywriters know is the secret sauce for clicks and controversy.

Want proof? Go to any trad site and compare how many comments there are on pure scandal over beautiful things. Few thank their charitable work to edify, but there is a cascade of comments for scandal where you can imagine people go first and are happy to comment.

[Greg]

Never before in human history have so many people, with so little to say, said so much to so few.

[Gardener]

I would buy a subscription to James03 and Greg's publication. What would it be called? "Cowbell Prophets", "Sandwich-Board End Times"? What?

Would the 2nd to last page always feature a full page spread for easy, cut-out, impending doom DIY kits that says, "The End Is Near"?

Would the last page just be a Clip Art of a bunch of sticks that has the word "Burn" superimposed?

[Miriam_M]

Reporting bad news constantly sells better than reporting spiritual stuff.

I was echoing Reply #20.


Look, I happen to be fascinated by the prospect that we're living in End Times, or the cusp of it, or a preview of it.  I read such threads -- here and elsewhere -- and contribute to them.  My posting history will surely demonstrate that.  "Reporting bad news," however, is not the same thing as the constant bickering and personal negativity one sees on certain sites.  Yes, such sites, and some of those threads, get a lot of traffic -- by the same 5-10 people, posting ad infinitum about how vile so-and-so is.

It's not constructive.  Discussing End Times, however, can be constructive if it leads us to examine our own lives.

[TradGranny]

Reporting bad news constantly sells better than reporting spiritual stuff.

I was echoing Reply #20.


Look, I happen to be fascinated by the prospect that we're living in End Times, or the cusp of it, or a preview of it.  I read such threads -- here and elsewhere -- and contribute to them.  My posting history will surely demonstrate that.  "Reporting bad news," however, is not the same thing as the constant bickering and personal negativity one sees on certain sites.  Yes, such sites, and some of those threads, get a lot of traffic -- by the same 5-10 people, posting ad infinitum about how vile so-and-so is.

It's not constructive.  Discussing End Times, however, can be constructive if it leads us to examine our own lives.

Well said!

[Greg]

I would buy a subscription to James03 and Greg's publication. What would it be called? "Cowbell Prophets", "Sandwich-Board End Times"? What?

The Profits of Doom.

[Elizabeth]

...  Discussing End Times, however, can be constructive if it leads us to examine our own lives.

[martin88nyc]

TOTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO DATE: 504 [Updated 5-29]

[Greg]

So that is 7500 USD per year.  What other revenue sources are there?  What will adverts bring in?

[Archer]

So that is 7500 USD per year.  What other revenue sources are there?  What will adverts bring in?

He'll already have to be picky so there can't be that many options for advertisements. Big box companies will stay away from something that could be considered "hate speech."

[Greg]

So he needs 20 to 40 times that number of paying subscribers in order to make a sensible living from it.

[martin88nyc]

So he needs 20 to 40 times that number of paying subscribers in order to make a sensible living from it.

Maybe he isn't doing it for the money.

[Greg]

Then why have a subscription at all?

He has to pay his bills like the rest of us.

Either he is living from investments, money or assets left to him, or he needs money to live.

I doubt he is doing it FOR the MONEY but the fact he is publicising passing the "500 paying subscribers" milestone suggests that he is not privately wealthy and the money is a necessary factor.

[Archer]

So he needs 20 to 40 times that number of paying subscribers in order to make a sensible living from it.

Maybe he isn't doing it for the money.

Got to be able to keep the lights on.