ARTS & FARCES internet

You’ll notice that I’ve removed the Google AdSense ads from all of the ARTS & FARCES websites. I did it for a variety of reasons:

• Last week I published two stories about serious problems with a DaVita dialysis clinic in Lufkin, TX. Google AdSense displayed the most outrageous ads I’ve yet seen associated with those stories. It was embarrassing.
• Yesterday in his plenary at the National Conference on Media Reform, Bill Moyers talked about just how badly broken the online advertising model is for sustainable journalism. In short, advertisers are rolling their own content; what do they need us for? And just who’s going to buy advertising keywords for media reform, healthcare reform, and broken publishing models?
• Also yesterday, in the National Conference on Media Reform breakout session, “Newspapers: Not Dead Yet,” (an absolute waste of time, by the way; excellent panelists with not one thing to say) a positively absurd statement from the audience seriously posited that professional journalists should be replaced with hobbyists. Hey, it’s working with volunteers in parts of Manhattan.

For all these reasons—but most of all because Google’s AdSense is seriously broken—I’m opting out. I have some minor ideas I plan on noodling around with but nothing even approaching a model.

Still looking, like everyone else, for a sustainable online publishing business model.