New media outlet storms onto the news scene

It started as a simple, neighborhood website, but when the limbs started to fall in 2006 Tracy Record realized it was capable of so much more. With the current system of corporate news on the decline Record knew she was onto something.

“The old system of these big, giant corporate organizations suddenly aren’t really sustainable anymore,” said Record.

Ever since that fateful windstorm, Tracy Record and her husband, Patrick Sand, have been covering the life and times of west Seattle and publishing it to their website westseattlebog.org.

The website is managed full time by the couple, who, on occasion employ free lance journalist and photographers to help cover the west Seattle area. The website is dedicated to providing 24/7 coverage of the area and receives help from the community around them.

“People sending us notes, wow I saw this, wow I heard this, is really; really huge,” said Record.

However it takes more than just tips to keep this on-line publication afloat. While it may seem that publications like this can run pro-bono it’s simply not the case. The website incurs a number of costs including Internet access, telephone, computers, cameras, transportation, business licensing, server management and more.

To help cover these sorts of costs WSB has turned to the old model of selling advertising space. The website features ads from State Farm Insurance, YMCA and other local businesses.

While the budget might be tight Record is optimistic that her publication and others like it will continue to thrive in today’s economy. This is because of the entrepreneurial spirit that WSB and other similar news outlets have to offer.

“We’re entering an era where there is going to be a lot more entrepreneurial journalism going on and that’s what this is,” said Record.