In troubled times for freelance journalists, a group of long-time golf and travel writers have banded together to form their own media company and a linked network of Internet sites providing well-researched, irreverent and intelligent writing about golf, travel and related subjects.
Portland, Ore. (Vocus) November 17, 2009 -- In troubled times for freelance journalists, a group of long-time golf and travel writers have banded together to form their own media company and a linked network of Internet sites providing well-researched, irreverent and intelligent writing about golf, travel and related subjects.
In a friendly poke at sites that simply recycle press releases or are written by amateurs, theAposition.com describes its content as "great golf and travel writing by actual journalists."
The term "the A position" refers to the best place a golfer can land his tee shot on a golf hole; as the brand name of the company's websites, it suggests the place readers will want to land for great golf and travel journalism.
The Content
Eight writers--who among them have written more than 20 books and thousands of articles for such newspapers and magazines as The New York Times, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest, Money, Outside, Men's Journal and many others, and visited thousands of the world's best golf courses--have pooled their talents and experiences to create a vast portfolio of varied and ever-evolving content.
The writers each publish their own websites, which include golf content as well as writing about specialty subjects--ranging from adventure travel to real estate. All their golf writing is collected at theAposition.com. The sites include articles, essays, profiles, blogs, short stories and other content and encompass the writers' best works published over many years in the industry, plus new content posted several times every week. Each writer also hosts a forum where readers can respond to stories and generate a conversation.
The Business Model
According to Jeff Wallach, a founding member and managing partner/executive editor of Golf Media Network, "At a time when editors are squeezing more out of their staffs rather than turning to freelancers, we decided to take control of our destinies and create our own online golf and travel outlet. We aspire to fill the void left by the demise of numerous golf publications and also to publish stories that will surprise our readers--such as pieces about the Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch, and an in-depth interview with architect Rees Jones, both currently available in our network."
The company is co-managed, with Wallach, by a couple of new-media pros: Bob Senoff, who handles business operations and contributed start-up capital, and Mike Hardy, who takes care of the technical issues of building and running the sites. Senoff, a long-time Internet investor and successful venture capitalist at New Millennium Partners (with such projects as Cafepress.com, Wildtangent, Icanhascheezburger-Pet Holdings, and Shopittome.com to his credit ) adds, "We are taking some of the most successful and best-known journalists in the golf and travel fields and giving them the chance to run wild editorially--they can write what they want, at whatever length they want, publish the off-beat stories that traditional media outlets wouldn't publish because they weren't supported directly by ads, and really express their personalities. It's what great journalism is supposed to do, and I expect it to attract not only a huge following of readers, but to monetize well with advertisers."
The sites will initially offer run-of-network and individual site advertising in various forms. But writers will develop, research, and publish their stories as they see fit. Golf courses, resorts, travel companies, and other potential advertisers will be given the option to advertise, rather than a quid pro quo. The parent company also int to generate additional revenue through partnerships, content packages, associate memberships offered to qualified journalists, and through other monetization strategies.
The Writers
The founding writer/members of Golf Media Network and the A position are:
Visit their individual sites and read them all at theAposition.com.
For further info contact:
Jeff Wallach
Executive Editor/Managing Partner
(O) 503-236-1793
(C) 971-242-9454
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
(O) 908-876-5100
(C) 908-963-6013
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