News Erupts, and So Does a Web Debut

The Texas Tribune seems to have debuted just in time to cover the shootings at Fort Hood. But the big coverage on the site Friday was not about the aftermath of the shootings, but the 50 highest paid state employees and an exclusive about a state representative who had switched parties. It was one more lesson in a first week that was full of them. Led by Evan Smith, the former editor of the highly respected Texas Monthly, The Tribune is a nonprofit attempt to use a mix of donations, sponsorships, premium content and revenue from conferences to come up with a sustainable model for journalism that neither depends on nor requires a print product. At this point, The Tribune has raised $3.7 million, including $1 million from John Thornton, an Austin venture capitalist, $1.6 million from other individuals, $500,000 from the Houston Endowment and $250,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. All of it is arrayed over the good-for-you, brussels sprouts journalism — education financing, lobbying, bureaucratic priorities, civics and state government. And as a niche site with a very narrow focus, it can't afford to change its spots just because a national event erupts 90 minutes up the road.