I’d like to believe all well-intended publications can find a market, and I think it’s likely that all the evocations of the late alternative weekly known as Metro Pulse by other alternative-publication efforts are well-intended. Based on the unexpectedly tremendous support we’ve gotten since the layoff, I gather the closure of Metro Pulse has been almost as traumatic for some readers as it was for the staff.
It’s no fun to lose your job, but if you do, it’s flattering that you’ve left such a chasm that people rush from all directions to fill it, even when it’s people you hardly know. As far as I can tell, the folks who are leading the efforts you might have heard about are all nice folks.
However, I feel obliged to point out one or two details omitted in some of the broadcast-news reports about these efforts to revive the spirit of Metro Pulse. One launch in particular has been getting a lot of press in the last couple of weeks. They’ve gotten so much attention that several friends have congratulated me on my new career with the Hard Knox Independent.
That’s one of the problems with short-form journalism. It allows people to jump to conclusions.
That paper may turn out to be a worthy enterprise. The more alternative weeklies there are, the livelier a city seems. However, although they’ve announced they’re going to publish a few former Metro Pulse contributors, including one recent columnist, it should be clear that the people who are running the Hard Knox Independent project have no association with Metro Pulse.
I’m just stating that as a point of information. They’re probably nice folks, as I said, and I wish them luck.
Meanwhile, I’m happy to announce that several actual former Metro Pulse staffers, including some who have played important roles in establishing that award-winning weekly’s reputation since its early days in the 1990s–often against great odds–have been quietly working on a significant project that they believe will be a good and perhaps essential thing for this community.
Tonight, no details are ripe enough for public consumption—the participants are trying to establish a solid foundation for something that will last for many years—but look for further announcements in the next couple of weeks.
“…the participants are trying to establish a solid foundation for something that will last for many years…”
I sure like the sound of that.
The KNS called me yesterday and asked me if I wanted to subscribe. I told them when they brought back MP I might subscribe, but not until then.
I would never subscribe anyway
Still important to support local newspapers and journalism, even in digital format. I subscribe to KNS.
Not so sure about the “next” Metro Pulse. Knoxville needs a good alternative to the KNS, no doubt about that. But I hope that anyone thinking about creating an alternative does not box themselves in by trying to recreate the Metro Pulse. The Pulse is gone and an attempt to bring it back would probably suffer the same fate as Woodstock II. What’s done is done. Maybe it’s time for something new.
Looking forward to whatever the new venture looks like, digital only or a combination of digital and print. Good luck!
Best wishes and good luck in your new ventures. Losing our informative and entertaining weekly has been a blow to most of us and a loss for the entire community. I anxiously look forward to following your progress in maintaining past standards and blazing new trails.