PLUG PULLED ON NEWSWATCH.org

By: Staff reports Media Analysis Site Looks For New Funding



NewsWatch.org, a respected media criticism site run by The Center for Media and Public
Affairs (CMPA) in Washington, ceased operations last week. Editor Trevor Butterworth says
the site was unable to secure sufficient funding to keep going.



But after many heartfelt notes from readers lamenting the site's untimely demise, the
nonprofit CMPA says it is trying to find a new source of funding, perhaps from
foundations or j-schools.



Funding was previously provided by a CMPA board member who wanted the site to provide news
analysis for the general public. 'We were trying to expand the debate over journalism and
to open out beyond journalists and academics to reach ordinary consumers,' says Bob
Lichter, president of CMPA. 'We figured out it is a lot harder to reach ordinary news
consumers on the Net than we thought.'



The site attracted journalists and media mavens, but not the volume of ordinary consumers
that was desired by Paul Mongerson, the board member who had funded the operation. 'We had a
nice product but it would take a lot of money to develop an audience to reach thousands of
ordinary Americans,' Lichter says.


Butterworth says the site offered true media criticism - something he believes is sorely
needed. 'A lot of what is commonly described as 'media criticism' is nothing of the sort.
It's simply reporting on events and controversies and business developments in the media.
Media criticism means an examination and an explication of the pursuit and presentation of
truth.'



Butterworth says most people don't understand how the press goes about its business, and how
stories are developed. 'This kind of understanding is desperately needed,' he says.



Newswatch.org launched in February 1999, with a redesign appearing last fall. CMPA continues
to run its non-daily site at www.cmpa.com.