Gapers Block publisher Andrew Huff speaks to a graduate journalism class at DePaul University on April 4, 2011. (Photo by Mike Reilley)
By Audrey Leon
The man behind the hyperlocal website GapersBlock, Andrew Huff, spoke to journalism students at DePaul University and discussed several topics including the site’s impending redesign.
Huff, who serves as editor and publisher, wants to streamline the website to better compete with its main rival: Chicagoist.
“They have a different style that makes it easier for Google to pick them up,” Huff said. “Chicagoist is a single column (blog) format that makes it easier to digest.”
Gapers Block plans to take its current three-column format and create a “waterfall” effect, Huff said.
The news items, which currently appear on the left, will move to the center column. A calendar currently resides in this section. In the planned redesign, this will shift to the right, just under the advertising square.
Advertisements will remain on the top left side. Huff admitted to the room of 25 students that ads are extremely important to the site’s bottom line.
“Advertising is one major way we make money,” Huff said, “Advertising and t-shirt sales.”
While ads bring money to Gapers Block, investment is a key financial source. Gapers Block received $35,000 from the Chicago Community Trust to fund its community reporting initiatives. This money enables Huff to pay freelancer writers $150 per article.
Recently, the Chicago Community Trust granted Gapers Block another $17,000 to focus its reporting solely on underserved Chicago communities, like that of the South and West sides. Articles regarding these areas will net the author $250.
Huff said he is not only looking for writers that can produce quality articles, but those who are web savvy. Gapers Block writers can post upload content to the site to ensure that news is always pumping out. Currently, there are 90 volunteer writers and seven editors with Huff as the only full-time employee.
During a question and answer session, Huff said that journalism students should not limit their job searches to media companies.
“Think beyond journalism for journalistic jobs,” Huff said. “There are a lot of jobs for people with journalism skills, like corporate jobs with communication departments, that are easier to get into and pay well.”
Huff, who also has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University, advised students to take up beat reporting for future success.
“Find a niche to focus on,” Huff said. “If you want to have a blog or a side job.”
Andrew Huff speaks about Gapers Block to Crains Chicago Business.
