Last week’s launch of The Tucson Sentinel illustrates two news and information delivery trends: the inkless, paperless “newspaper” and the nonprofit business model.

Dylan Smith and a handful of former staffers from the Tucson Citizen, the 138-year-old newspaper paper that ceased print publication in May, launched TucsonSentinel.com in the wake of newspapers and media outlets nationwide slashing staffs and shutting their doors.

Tucson Sentinel content and format resembles online versions of traditional print newspapers. Professional reporters and editors and a cadre correspondents will cover local topics and promote community conversations on issues that affect Tucson, according to TucsonSentinel.com. It also has national and international news services.
The Tucson Sentinel’s emergence is similar to The Arizona Guardian, a year-old subscription-based online-only news site in Phoenix, that was developed by staff members laid off from the East Valley Tribune. The Guardian is tightly focused on state government and politics.

TucsonSentinel.com is a nonprofit organization, a business model frequently touted as the savior of newspapers and traditional media. TucsonSentinel.com is owned and operated by Tucson-based nonprofit corporation Black Mountain Media Inc.

Sentinel is embracing its role as model for a new journalism. TucsonSentinel.com will receive funding and assistance from local donors, corporations, foundations, and advertising and sponsorships, according to the Web site. The TucsonSentinel.com goal is building a sustainable nonprofit business model that delivers quality reporting in a competitive media environment — without paper and ink.

(Thanks to raoulrifan for the photo.)

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