Laura McGann is the managing editor of The Washington Independent, a year-old nonprofit Washington-based Web site providing original content on a wide array of national topics. The Web-only product is funded by the Center for Independent Media, a nonprofit media group set up to meld blog technology with the standards of professional journalism. For her part, McGann helped get the fledging Independent off the ground and continues to manage its daily activity.
Why did you chose to work for an upstart Web-based news agency?
It’s great to work with people that hold some optimism about the future of journalism. The Washington Independent is a nonprofit site experimenting with the best parts of new and traditional media.
Why start a media organization in a market that some say is crowded and failing?
Journalism has plenty of naysayers. I’ve found that the field almost requires a healthy dose of cynicism. Unfortunately now there’s another reason for vocal pessimists. If we don’t reinvent our industry’s financial model and figure out a new platform to attract an audience, we’re through. At TWI we’re trying both.
What does The Washington Independent do that’s different from other organizations that cover national news?
TWI is one of the few online-only publications that runs all original, reported content. We’re experimenting with telling stories in blog and traditional format with a distinct voice. We see journalism as a public-interest job and we want readers to know that we care deeply about the beats we cover.
Has it been successful?
Yes, January marks our one-year anniversary. In just 12 months we’ve broken important stories by sending a reporter to cover the war in Afghanistan; another to Alaska to report out just who Gov. Sarah Palin is; and two reporters boarded the Obama and McCain campaign planes to file from the campaign trail. Now we’re ramping up for 2009 with the hiring of several new reporters. We’re looking to make our mark following national security, Congress, the White House and the economy.
